RLB PRE PORT VALE

Regis Le Bris looked towards Sunday's clash at Vale Park against lower league opposition as we try to progress further in the FA Cup. He refused to use their famously bad pitch as an excuse, nor the short turnaround between games.

OPPORTUNITY FOR FRINGE PLAYERS

"Yes because the group will be small, but we still want to go strong with the best eleven possible. It's important for us and it's important for the club and for our fans. The group is going to be a bit different but still with 11, 12, 13, 14 good players."

RESPECT THE FA CUP

“Reaching 40 points was the first target but it's not the finishing line. I think the lads are really ambitious and they want to keep pushing to see how far we can go. And it's important with nine games to play to see what can happen. And it's important to keep pushing. This FA Cup is a different competition, a competition full of surprises. So it's going to be really important to match the values. They will play with hunger, intensity, ambition. Probably the pitch will help to paint the picture. and it's going to be key to have this mindset."

WE’RE USED TO BAD PITCHES

“Absolutely, so it can't be an excuse.We'll play the game full of energy. We have to adapt because especially next to your box, it's hard to play short and the level of risks is high. You can't play football and you need to adapt because it's key in that game. But it's not so different, at the end you have to find a solution.”

LO9 HAS BEEN THERE

“We experienced this situation at Oxford and I think Luke was excellent, fighting against their number nine. It was important to have two, three, four players able to show what it means and it wasn't so different in Bournemouth or in Leeds. Part of the game is about fighting, togetherness, the values and if you don't bring those values on the pitch, you can't play football. So, it won't be so different.”

FIGHTING SPIRIT

“I think we are talking about basics. If you're not able to suffer together, defend together, to show that you want to win, then you can't exist at that level whether it’s in the Premier League or in the FA Cup. If you don't put those values on the pitch, you will have problems."

PREPARING FOR BOTH OUTCOMES

“We knew before that it was going to be a short turnaround. After Leeds we have three or four days to prepare for the next round. We are used to working like that, we'll do our usual work analysing the opponent, their strengths, their weaknesses and trying to prepare our squad properly.”

DRESSING ROOM REACTION POST LEEDS

“They were tired first of all, because it was intense, and pleased with the game especially because it means a lot to winning at Leeds away at Elland Road. We played with intensity, we pressed high, our mid press was excellent. So, we played their game and we made it really difficult for them. They created a couple of chances on set pieces but nothing else apart from that. Can we be better with the ball? Yes, but they are a pressing machine as well. It's not easy to play under pressure, especially at Elland Road. We had five or six players missing as well. It's not easy for the new lads to step up, but they did well. So, overall, I think the the mood was positive and now we want to go further.”

MAKING CUP PROGRESS

“It's exciting because we have the opportunity to go further but you need to earn it because it won't be easy. It's a specific context, against a Premier League team especially, so they will play with this X factor, this energy that makes surprises. It's always like that. And so for us, the context is really important. We want to play this game then if we win we'll see for the next one."

ELLBORG DREAM DEBUT

“He did well. I wasn't surprised, to be fair, he matched my expectations. Sometimes you can be surprised one way or the other, but here it matched exactly what I expected from him. So, happy for that because  it's not automatic. You have to do it and he was really well connected with the lads. Obviously it was a bit difficult to build up under pressure because of the opponent, but also because of his culture and his knowledge with the squad. You can't create something just after one game, you need experiences, but he has really good potential.”

UNAFFECTED BY THE PITCH

“We'll play with that pitch, so I don't want to highlight too much of this part of the game. You have to adapt and  to find a creative solution. We'll have to be pragmatic with our qualities and the scenario, how the connection between two teams will evolve. We never know. Football is still unpredictable. We'll have to find a solution. So is it through set pieces, direct play, one-v-one? The buildup into the midfield might be difficult so you just have to adapt and to find another solution."

FA CUP HISTORY

“I think (the players) are really well connected with this competition. It started early against Everton, it was a tough week and they did really well and pushed to win this game. Then in Oxford, they were disciplined and found a way to score when it was important to do it and managed the late part of the game really well. They are ambitious and they understand that this competition is a bit different. You have the opportunity to go to Wembley really quickly, but it's still the same. They are experienced and they know that you have to earn it.”

INJURIES “Brian Brobbey trained this morning - he won't be available for Port Vale, but next week he should be okay. Reinildo should run on the grass this weekend, which is good as well. He's so close to being back with the squad. Everything is going well. Nordi will probably run next week as well. They are in the bracket to be available around Brighton or Newcastle. Dennis, same idea. He ran last week and it was still a bit painful, but not too much, which is normal. It's a symptom-based and we still have to adapt the rehabilitation programme according to what he feels, but he's in a good place."