We invite you to listen to the post-match press conference with coach John Carver.
– I think I have to start off by saying it wasn’t a real classic. I think there was a lot of pressure on both teams because of the position in the league table. I think you can understand how we were trying to play – said coach Carver. – When you try to play under pressure it’s very difficult, but we showed amazing energy. And also when you are giving the guys so much information in 5 days, it can sometimes cloud your mind. We are so grateful to get three points because we haven’t won a game since September so it’s nice to have this winning feeling back. And this is only the start.
About Kacper Sezonienko’s performance:
– I kept an open mind right the way up to yesterday. I only picked the team last night in my head. I thought his honesty, his running and his endeavour was very good. We needed to tidy up a little bit on his quality cross for sure, but he gave the team some energy which was important.
About whether today’s performance by Lechia is what the coach expected:
– It’s certainly not a high performance today, but like I say, it’s only a start and we have a saying, Rome wasn’t built in a day. This week was all about putting foundations in because we have been conceding goals so it was important. The good thing is we’ve got a pre-season to come back to. We have four weeks where we can work and improve and develop on what is the basics.
Nobody’s getting carried away, so I’ll keep the guys’ feet on the ground, but they have to enjoy this because they’ve not had it for a long time.
About the competition for the goalkeeper position:
– I think you’ll find with me that nobody’s guaranteed to play. They have to earn the right to play and I think we’re fortunate that we have an experienced goalkeeper and a young goalkeeper who’s developing.
Certainly, the four-week break when we go into the camp in Turkey, I’ll have a real close look at that situation, but let’s not forget what Bogdan has done today. He’s pulled off two very, very good saves which kept us in the game. In the end, we won the game.
I don’t normally give praise to people. I like it to be a team thing and it was a team thing, but he did make two special saves.
About the changes in the squad:
– Well, the good news is we didn’t concede any goals. Sometimes when you concede goals and it’s getting towards the end of a game, the fear factor comes in. You start dropping deeper and deeper and the ball starts coming in the box. Sometimes it’s very difficult. Nerves come into it for sure, but I made the changes and it was interesting because obviously with all the fireworks there were so many interruptions, but at the same time, we have to manage the game. I have to deal with it and I’m not interested. We’re winning the game, we have to get three points.
About the plans for December:
– First of all, I need to get a work permit. So I’ll be sorting that out early in the week. I’ll stay here for the rest of the week. We have one or two of the injured guys who will be staying here as well. So I’ll get to see them and I’ll have conversations and get to know a little bit about them. But I’ll stay here for some time and then I’ll fly back home for a break at Christmas and then be back here early to go. I mean, all the players are leaving, I think, after today. So there’s no real need for me to be here because there’s no one to work with. But I’ll be working when I’m back there because I’ll be preparing for the next game against Motor Lublin.
