- 5 months ago
Ruben Selles on Sheffield United signings and Birmingham City preparation
Category
đŸ¥‡
SportsTranscript
00:00Ruben, you've had a couple of days to watch the game back and digest Saturday. What's
00:06your take on, from a defensive aspect, went wrong against Bristol City?
00:11Well, I think after reviewing the game and then speaking with the boys, we all agreed
00:16that it was a game that hurt us. It was a difficult game for us and we have been working
00:24very actively in the issues that we had. I didn't think it was a defensive thing because
00:31we were barely defending. It was more a transitional thing. It was more a counter-tank and our shape
00:37and our behaviour when we lose the ball. I think that was the main issue from the game.
00:43We have been actively working and correcting those issues to not make it happen in the
00:50future.
00:51Were you surprised after a relatively strong pre-season, and with respect to the opposition
00:55I really mean Fulham and Nice rather than the earlier games, that it was the transitional
01:00element of the game the other day was as it was?
01:03I'm not surprised because, as I said before, I think the pre-season is the pre-season. It's
01:08a lot of factors. I think we did what we need to do there. But obviously we were not able
01:14to translate those performances into a competition performance. You can never emulate that kind
01:22of stress and that kind of situation during the pre-season. It is what it is. That's why
01:29I spoke before the game that I wanted to translate those moments in the pre-season into the season.
01:35I think there were some elements that appeared in the game, like the stressful factor in some
01:42moments, the goals against, the ability or not to come back into the game that were determined.
01:51And those are the factors and the moments, especially the emotional moments that we need to learn how
01:56to cope together. Because bad moments will happen and always happen to any team, but the way that
02:01we solve it and sort it out is how we can make the difference.
02:05I'm mindful of the fact that it's just one game. But how difficult was it to see that then, given all
02:15of the work that had been done to date in pre-season, to change how Sheffield United want to go about
02:20playing their game this year? No, I think we are what we are. That is not going to change. One thing
02:29is what you are. And the other thing is just to adjust into the mistakes that you make. And I think
02:34we made some mistakes into the locking. I think for some moments we were too naive in possession. We were
02:39too open. And we can do exactly the same game, but having more clear line passes and more levels in
02:46our build-up and better behaviours in our counter press and what we call the lock in the rest defence.
02:53So I don't think the main line should change. What should change is our structure and our behaviour
03:00when we lose the ball. It's not really necessarily about individuals, but there was a little bit of
03:05jeering for Reece Norrington-Davis when he was substituted. What do you think about that? How is he?
03:11Well, I spoke with a lot of them, obviously, and I spoke with Reece. After the game, everyone was not
03:19in a good spot, as you can imagine. I think Reece is a professional and will accept that kind of
03:27situation in the best way he can. Obviously, it's difficult, but at some moments you need to take
03:33decisions also to protect them. And in this case, not only to Reece, we make three substitutions because we
03:40wanted to change the dynamic of the game, especially after those two early goals in the second half.
03:45So we'll come on to the match in itself in a moment, but with regard to team news for Birmingham,
03:51then what's your thinking at the moment? Changes because it's the cup or go again to try and get
03:57everybody even further up to speed? Well, I think it's not as... I can't see it as simple as you say,
04:05but it's not as simple because it will be different if we will play today because it will be four days
04:11until the next game. The fact that we play Wednesday night and only have two days to recover before we
04:16play in the third day, it just makes things a little bit more difficult. So I will make some changes. I
04:21will keep some of the players in the line-up because I actually, not only the starting line-up from
04:27Saturday, there are some other players that have been working hard just to... and they deserve their
04:31opportunity. Yeah. Well, Somare, of course, has been training with the group now. Presumably, he's
04:36ready to play. Is he? Yes, he's ready to play. He's settled in well, sorry. Yes. Yes, yes,
04:43Gabriel is a good player and the fact that on Saturday we didn't use him, it was related with the
04:50performance on the pitch and he will have minutes tomorrow. I'm afraid this is probably going to be
04:57a theme until September the 1st at seven o'clock, but Incomings, has anything happened in the short
05:03time since we last spoke to you with regard to adding to the squad? Because there's clearly great
05:08need now. Well, I understand that we are talking about defeat, but it's nothing that I didn't say
05:16in the very beginning. I say that we are looking for those defenders to strengthen the areas and
05:21that's exactly where we are. The club is actively in the market trying to make those deals happen.
05:28Right now, right today, we don't have any news. Right. How frustrated are you by that then? Because
05:33time is... I appreciate this three weeks before the bell closes, but fans see good players being sold
05:41and potentially the squad being depleted for the next two or three matches. Well, I mean,
05:46exactly the same. I wish I can have the players, but as I told you, I'm not going to make it. I think
05:52we still had a good team enough just to get a better result on Saturday. And the situation,
05:59as I repeat, is not about one game, but has never really been my style to make excuses or to find if
06:08if we have the squad that we have and some of the young players need to step out, that's we need to
06:12build them up in the best way possible. And then hopefully all the active things that the club is
06:17doing to bring the players are going to come through a point that those players are going to end up being
06:24here. Hopefully that's tomorrow, even though now it's too late to play with anybody in the game.
06:29Hopefully that's tomorrow and we will have one or two players coming to support us for the weekend.
06:33But again, I always work with the assumption that this is what it is and I need to get the very best
06:41of what it has. That's kind of with regard to incomings. What about potential departures from the
06:47squad? Football clubs always get lost in the maelstrom of speculation, which fans read. Players
06:54potentially being moved on here, there and everywhere. Have you been given any assurances that you'd be able to
06:59keep the vast majority of players that are still here? Yes, and I would be very disappointed if
07:05someone goes out before someone comes right now. That will be a thing for us because we cannot allow
07:12that to happen anymore. Birmingham then as a challenge. Promoted of course, but promoted with
07:19a massive fanfare. What's your take on them as an opposition? Promoted with that? Big noise, lots of
07:25fanfare. They spent a lot of money, so everyone's looking at them. No one's just thinking, well,
07:32they'll try and stay up. People are expecting Birmingham to go up, aren't they? Again, given
07:36they spent £15 million on one player and a couple of nines and a few fives along the way.
07:42Yeah, sorry, I just want a clarification. I don't pay too much attention to the noise. We played them last
07:49season with Reading in the first game of the season in Ligue 1 and they've done a fantastic
07:55season in Ligue 1. Yes, they had that financial power that everyone talked about it, but at the
08:02end you need to transform that one in results and they did. And they had a great first game of the
08:08season, even though they draw in the final part of the game against Sips, which I think they were
08:13dominating and controlling a lot of parts of that game, especially in the first 55 minutes.
08:18And it's going to be a difficult opponent tomorrow.
08:26Hi, Ruben. Just to touch on a player that I think gets sort of alluded to in,
08:30Jack Robinson's been linked with Wrexham this week, obviously your captain. What's the situation,
08:35as you understand it, regarding his future?
08:38Well, as I say, no one should go before we get anybody in and Jack, as any other player,
08:45will have the teams that we wanted because he's a very experienced player in the category,
08:50as it happened with some other players before. You know I don't pay massive attention on those
08:55things. So as much as I understand, Jack is our player, right now he's our captain. And
09:01that's what I take for the immediate action.
09:03Is he a player you'd like to see stay here, beyond the window?
09:06Well, let's see. I already say that I never say never. I think there is a lot of factors on that
09:13for the moment. And that's all I can say because due to the nature of the situation right now, I'm not
09:19going to talk more than in 24, 48 hours. He's our player, he's our captain and he's ready to play tomorrow.
09:27Just speaking more generally about transfers, you talked last week about Jack, about the
09:31sort of experience he has behind the scenes, the leadership that he brings. When you're looking
09:35at players now, how much are you looking at that side of things? Because it's quite a young dressing
09:39room now, isn't it? How much are you looking at that leadership side as well as what they can do
09:44on the pitch as well? Is that in the back of your mind?
09:46Yeah, absolutely. Not in the back of my mind. I think it's one of their requests. I think
09:52I have been in clubs where in the past we made the same mistake that you get excited because
09:57you get a lot of young prospects and you forget that you need also some platform for them to develop.
10:03And I think it should be it should be a good mix on that with players that are experienced in the
10:09category in the division that can give you that not the main performance, but can give you the
10:15platform for the other ones to to grow. And even those players many times end up being also
10:20growing themselves. So for sure it's one of the points that we like to put into our recruitment department.
10:29Yeah, is that as well players that have had experience of the division and the English
10:33football as well? Because if you're signing a player now for a development player, you haven't
10:38really got the time for that, have you? Do you need players who can really hit the ground running?
10:41As I said, this is a mix. I like the young talented players, but I also like the experience of players
10:48that can give to you the platform for the other ones. I think a good dressing room is full of energy
10:54and talent and players that want to do it mainly. And I think obviously when you are when you're looking
11:00for the Champions League, you want a group of players that have that experience, that have gone through
11:06situations, have gone through from relegation battles to promotion battles to being promoted
11:13to trying to get in the play-off. You guys need to have that feeling as we all have a little bit in
11:20some of us and a bigger feeling for some others that have been long in the club.
11:27Just talking about, again, players in general, when you have players like Jack, like Reece, who are
11:33being eyed by other teams, who the teams are interested in, how do you play that as a manager?
11:37Do you have to sit them down and see where their head is at or do you just say, listen,
11:40while ever you're at this football club, while ever you've got that badge on your chest,
11:44you know, if you're playing and that's the final, how do you sort of approach that?
11:48Well, I would like to tell you that, no, I would just tell you as soon as you are playing for us,
11:52then you are, but that's not how the human being works. I think it's always a conversation to have
11:57with, not with the two players that you design, with anyone that has proposed ourselves or has
12:02another future or think they have another future away from us. I think we are all human and we are
12:08all understanding, but we are all understanding the rules that when we are working and playing for a
12:13club and the club is just, has been good for us because they pay us in time and they give us the
12:19platform to be the best version that we can be. We need to all to be respectful with that. And we
12:25understand that sometimes your mind can go into a position that are not ideal, but you need to
12:34make yourself accountable. Sometimes it's not about you, it's about your teammates and people that
12:39comes with you. So, but it's always a conversation on those, on those. I also don't like to have
12:43people that is not involved with what we want to do. Just actually about one final topic as well,
12:49Michael Cooper has been a few questions on the fan base about his fitness and whether he might be
12:54carrying a bit of an injury. Can you clear that up? Is he fully fit at the minute? Yeah, he's fully fit,
12:59he has been training, he played, let's see if he play tomorrow, but if he doesn't play,
13:03will not be for any fitness reasons. Perfect. Thank you very much. Thank you.
13:10Hi, Ruben. We know the strategy at this club is partly about bringing through young players from
13:14the academy and from elsewhere. I just wonder that you've inherited a few players who are
13:20new to English football, senior football. Is there anyone particularly in pre-season who's impressed you?
13:28Well, the one that has been more close to, or the two that has been more close to us have been
13:32Jefferson and Ukaki. Jefferson played more as a midfielder when his best position is probably a
13:39little bit more in the tag, and Ukaki played as a winger, having a couple of goals. Both of them
13:44were really hard. Unfortunately, Christian got an injury very early in the pre-season,
13:50has not been able to play minutes, and Michael came a little bit late, so he has been training with us
13:56in the under-21. I think we are creating that space for them to grow. I will not put the stress on them
14:04to be key players or important players for us in the first team right now. I think, first of all,
14:09we need to help them in the adaptation, and then we need to see how much we can support them to become
14:14championship players. But, I mean, Ukaki and Jefferson have been around the squad, particularly in pre-season.
14:19Are we likely to see either of them, maybe from the bench or the start?
14:24Yeah, maybe we will see one of them, maybe tomorrow, maybe for the next game, around the bench or starting.
14:31But again, it's just, we cannot develop everyone at the same time, because then the performance
14:38will suffer. And that's a big point that we need to take into consideration. But yeah, definitely
14:45one of them will be more closer than the others.
14:48And, I mean, you talked to Danny there about the human element of players leaving. It's obviously
14:52a big element for players coming from Bulgaria and Peru to, you know, adapt to English life, basically.
15:00And you've obviously worked in different countries and had to do that as a coach. What are the sort of
15:07biggest adaptions that these boys will have to make?
15:11Well, the first thing is the language. The first thing is being able to communicate yourself in
15:18in this case, in English. And that is a big factor, because people can support you, people can do you.
15:24But at the end, we are not talking about dressing rooms. I've been before in dressing rooms, where
15:29even though the country had one language, it was a multicultural, and then it was different
15:33languages like French, English, Spanish, Russian talk. So everyone help each other a little bit.
15:38We are talking about the vast majority of the boys are English and speak English. So it's just a little
15:44bit less. And even if they try to communicate, sometimes it's more difficult. So the first thing
15:50that we needed to address is just to create a platform for those boys in order to be calm off the
15:56pitch to be able to perform on the pitch. The second thing will be, it was about how do we give them
16:02that training exposure, the championship tempo, and if they don't have the championship matches,
16:08they can go and play with under 21. And then the third is just training them every day. But the main
16:14thing is the language and the culture of the pitch and the differences with their own country or the
16:19countries that they have been playing. What sort of things do you do as a club to try and make them
16:26feel more comfortable? Do you try and point them in the way of, I don't know, other South American
16:35people living in the country? Or is it about more integrating them with the English side?
16:41No, I think it's not black or white. I think you need to do it in the case of Jefferson, for example,
16:47that will be the one that from South America. I think the first thing that you need to do is just
16:52to provide what he needs off the pitch, like a house. Like I know sometimes it looks like a very
16:58simple question, but it's a reality. Being sure that they have a place to live, being sure that they
17:03have food every day and they can find their basic needs every time. See if they have family or if they
17:10are 18 years old and they don't have family, putting them with a family and or if their family are coming
17:17with them from their country and taking care of those small things. That's for me the most important
17:23thing because then they can be focused in the training and getting better. They don't need to
17:29think about what do I going to eat tonight or what are they going to stay next week.
17:35And in terms of the on the pitch stuff, you mentioned the championship tempo. Is that the biggest
17:41change for the for these lads to get used to? Absolutely. Absolutely. I think I think the
17:46championship tempo is arguably it will be the top 10 in the world and the league is marked like that and
17:55unity is it's a high tempo league and it's a especially with the regulations from the AFL and the
18:01Premier League last season together last seasons when they just try to have more playing time with more
18:06quality though. That's playing time with the referees just being on it. I think it has been even
18:12increasing the the difference with some other countries even with Spain. So I think it's becoming
18:19a big thing the the tempo in the first two divisions in England and to play in that tempo you need to be
18:26able to train in that tempo every single day. Yeah I was going to ask you about training. Do you really
18:31replicate that that levelled training or other matches a big difference in that? No I try to
18:37replicate the way that we work is that we train try to train harder than than we play and we try to
18:43replicate and even go higher than the than the food that the game tempo so that's something that we try
18:48to do and I think if you see our record as a technical staff you have seen that players with us
18:54as always move forward and a little bit or a big step so that's what we try to do.
Be the first to comment