Yahoo News Stoke City boss makes aggression admission after Middlesbrough defeat
Narcis Pelach is tasking himself with urgently adding aggression to Stoke City both defensively and in attack.
Pelach saw Stoke lose 2-0 to Middlesbrough in his first away match as head coach and, amid frustration from travelling supporters, admitted he was looking for more ruthlessness in key moments and in key areas.
“I'm disappointed with the result and disappointed as well with the performance,” he said.
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“I think we have to be much more aggressive defensively and offensively. I can see the team was organised in one phase or the other but it's about doing more runs in behind, getting more crosses, getting more shots off. I think we had a step in the right direction in terms of ball possession. I could see in the first part of the game, the team wanted to have the ball. I think the battle for possession was more or less the same, 50-50, and we know that Middlesbrough is a great side on that. We're building towards the new style but we have to turn it into chances. That's why I'm disappointed.
“We have to be more aggressive, get more balls into the pocket, or wide and go deep and cross and create chances. Defensively we were organised but we have to be more aggressive, we have to be much more reliable in duels and second balls. Competitively I don't think we were there today. Tactically we were fine but we have to be more aggressive in both phases, attacking and defensive.”
He added: “We are building towards that. Today was a difficult place against a difficult team and at times we did it well but at times I think we conceded too many crosses, we weren't going towards the man to stop him crossing or shooting. It's just about doing the last step to win the ball back but tactically we were organised.”
