RLB PRE B’MOUTH

RLB met the press ahead of the visit of Bournemouth on Saturday, here’s what he had to say…

FULHAM DEFEAT

I think it’s part of our journey in the Premier League and we expected a tough game against Fulham because they have this ability to create chances with different threats for example, they were really good against Arsenal a few weeks ago. So, it wasn’t a surprise. So, we were prepared for that. We struggled with just a small part of the first half, I think. Then we had a good period when we dominated the ball. We might not have created too many chances, and they finished really well. Maybe with more energy, using the energy of the crowd as well. So, it’s not a concern just a reminder about the level of this league. They created many chances in a short period of time. Yeah, so we tested our limits, probably we reached our limit, and we know how we can manage this part of the game differently. We have our main objectives for our next improvements.

Yeah, so far, we were always able to react after a defeat. So, I hope it will be the case once again because this league is like that. You’ll face many strong opponents, and we are still in a new journey. So, we are finding out new opponents, new scenarios and we need these experiences to grow and because we don’t have this background so it’s a new lesson. Sometimes you can manage the problems properly, sometimes it’s not possible but it’s part of the process.

POST FULHAM

So, I had this conversation with the players, and I told them because we perform well, and consistency is key to develop a new squad. I think was normal to keep the same starting eleven because of positive outputs we had. Now with the main course of the season, with many games in a row, in a short period of time, organically it will happen, and you’ll have your opportunities to play, get ready for that and I think they are training well so far so I hope they will be ready for those fixtures.

DIFFERENT FORMATIONS

Yeah, I think it’s needed. At that level you have to be flexible but it’s a question of phases and moments. Probably if we are in a deep block, the last fixture, we were comfortable in the back 5-4-1. We were able to manage the spaces to defend the box as well. We are really efficient. A bit higher when we are in a bit of a block. Sometimes with the 5-4-1, 3-4-3 is not always efficient to press. So maybe we tended to drop a bit but when we were high up the pitch we went in man for man. So, in man for man, we don’t have a specific structure. So, the last game it worked well. We might use a 4-2-2 again because I think now, we are flexible. We have a good knowledge. So, we’ll see. We like this pressing team, this ambition in the game. Bournemouth are really well organised. They are consistent in their structure, but they are doing well. In one point, three points. They are really good and probably it’s a good example for us.

KLD AT MARSEILLES V MAGS

I watched the game as well. So, we know Newcastle, we know, I think every one of the teams in the Premier League. KLD is really well connected with Marseilles because of his background, his story and probably was happy for that reason. I don’t know if it was because of Louis, but Marseilles won, and he’s really well connected with this club.

BOURNEMOUTH SIMILARITIES

I think every club has its own journey but the recruitment, the way they build their squad with the style of players as well. I think its really similar to what we want to do here because it fits with the region, with the club, with the story of Sunderland as well. So, it’s always interesting to analyse, to assess what happened when it worked and what happened when it didn’t work. And here we have a good example.

CROWD ENERGY

Yeah, I think it’s really important and you can feel it. we spoke about Marseilles and Newcastle for example, when you can feel that Marseilles use this energy of their crowd to create, to generate momentum and probably Newcastle didn’t have this energy from their crowd, even because the stadium is big and you can’t feel the same level of connection. So, for us here at home, we have this advantage, and I think its really massive because our fans, our stadium are really useful for that. So far it has worked well but it’s a combination. We have to start from ourselves, get the energy, press, play your best football. At least with the best energy as possible, sometimes it’s not possible to be at your best, technically or tactically but if you are really well connected with this ambition, I think the combination is really useful for the output of the game.