Zola ‘gutted’as winless run reaches 10 games
CRESTFALLEN Gianfranco Zola admitted he was ‘gutted’ by Birmingham City’s latest defeat.
Blues’ 1-0 reverse at home to Reading on Tuesday night left Zola feeling disconsolate and sympathising with his players.
To be fair to his team whilst they didn’t create much going forward – and had one lapse at the back – their industry and commitment could not be questioned.
Which was why the Italian manager was so disappointed.
“I am frustrated, upset, gutted – whatever you want to say – disappointed,” he said.
“I don’t think the players deserved this, I think we are doing enough not to lose games – to win them. It is not happening and I feel sorry for them because they gave everything for the team, for the club, for myself and we deserved something more than that. It is not happening, we cannot start crying or complaining. This is the reality, this is what we are facing at the moment.”
Meanwhile Zola insisted it was not his plan to allow David Cotterill to leave but claimed the club’s poor results meant he needed a different type of player.
Cotterill last night joined Bristol City on loan for the remainder of the season.
The Blues winger made public his shock at the decision and the fact he was given just 24 hours notice to find a new club.
Zola wished him well but maintained the Welshman was a victim of circumstance.
“I do respect him, I have no problem with David,” Zola said. “It wasn’t my plan to sell him but unfortunately it also wasn’t my plan to be in this position.
“Of course I understand he is upset because we told him in the last minute but, as I said, it wasn’t our plan.”
Cotterill returns to Bristol City having started out at Ashton Gate as a trainee. He leaves Blues having played 101 games and scored 15 goals.
Meanwhile, the club have signed Watford striker Jerome Sinclair on loan for the remainder of the season.
Sinclair, born in Birmingham, has made seven appearances for Watford since moving from Liverpool last summer.
Birmingham had been in the market for a striker after finding out Clayton Donaldson will be out injured for longer than anticipated.
Sinclair, aged 20, said: “It’s a really good move for me. Hopefully I can come here and get a lot of game-time and help the team progress and develop my game as well.
“I’m only 20 and I’m still developing as a young player, but hopefully this can be a real kick-on for me and I can score goals and help the team.
“I think I’ll learn a lot from Gianfranco Zola in terms of my game and helping me improve and any little tips I can pick up from him are only going to help me.”
Blues also signed Arsenal’s 19-year-old Polish defender Krystian Bielik on loan for the rest of the season.
Bielik has appeared once for the Gunners’ first team after moving to London from Legia Warsaw in a reported £2.7million deal during January 2015.
Among the departures from St Andrew’s was rookie winger Viv Solomon-Otabor, who has joined League One Bolton on loan. Reece Brown has also joined a League One outfit – Chesterfield – on loan for the rest of the season.