Roo: Lads playing with lot of pride, passion
POINT AGAINST SWANS
DERBY County go into the second international break of the season on a run of one defeat in their last five matches – and that was to an 89thminute penalty against Sheffield United.
They have beaten Stoke City and Reading, and drawn with West Bromwich Albion and Swansea City.
Here’s what manager Wayne Rooney told the media after the goalless draw against Swansea at Pride Park Stadium.
■■Was that a good point?
Rooney: “I thought it was a difficult game for us. I thought Swansea played some good stuff, had a lot of possession, didn’t really create that many clear-cut chances but it can be a frustrating game when the opposition have more of the ball. I thought the lads dug in.
“In the second half we went with a back five, tried to frustrate them and hit them on the break. We had two or three good chances and so on another day we maybe could have nicked it but overall we have to be pleased with a point because it was a tough game.”
■■Did your team struggle to get to grips with Swansea in the opening 20 minutes?
Rooney: “If I am being honest, I was probably going to change it to a back five after 20 minutes and then Stears (Richard Stearman) got injured, so we were looking to get in at half-time and change it.
“We did that and I thought in the second half we did well. We felt we had to be more aggressive, we had to get to the ball more and put more pressure on them. We did that a lot better in the second half.”
■■What is the latest on Richard Stearman who limped off just before half-time?
Rooney: “Not too sure yet, next couple of days we will assess him and hopefully it is not too serious. It is too early to say the extent of that injury.”
■■Was replacing Ravel Morrison a tactical decision or did he pick up an injury?
Rooney: “It was purely a tatcical decision. I could see how the game was going, I knew they would have more of the ball and it was going to be a game where you would have to dig in.
“We defended more than we would be attacking, so I felt it was suited to go to a back five.”
■■How close were Phil Jagielka and Sam Baldock to being involved?
Rooney: “Jags went out on Thursday and was still feeling it. We looked at him against yesterday (Friday), and Sam, but they weren’t close for this game but I am fully expecting them to be back and available for our next game.”
■■You must be delighted with the spirit your players are showing given everything that is going on?
Rooney: “The players are showing attitude, spirit and enthusiasm.
“It is good that this game has happened, on another day we could have got frustrated and lost our discipline but, with everything that has gone on, I think for the lads to keep their concentration, stay in the game and stick to what we were trying to do, was good.
“We brought Festy (Ebosele) on to use his pace because they had a very high line but the final pass, we didn’t have the quality to get him in.
“Overall, I am pleased with the point because I think if this was last season we might have caved in.”
■■Ryan Allsop kept his place ahead of Kelle Roos. Was the choice of keeper a big decision for you?
Rooney: “It is always a big decision with your keeper. Ryan came in against Reading, did well and kept a clean sheet.
“Those decisions are never easy but that is my job, I have to make tough decisions and that was one because Kelle has done really well.”
■■On the pitch your side are making a lot of encouraging noises. Is off the pitch as bad as we hear about at the moment?
Rooney: “It is very difficult for everyone, not just myself and the players but the staff and everyone connected to the football club.
“It is going through a really tough moment and what the players are doing is making the fans believe, they are bringing some pride back to the club that maybe had been lost, certainly over the last couple of years and certainly with how it has been left.
“The lads are representing this club with a lot of passion and pride, and they are doing a very good job.”
determination, you can stay up, can’t you?
Rooney: “Yes, we can. We are not too far away from getting out of the relegation zone as it is and so that is a realistic challenge for us.
“When I came into this job we were on something like six points, something like that, and we did well to stay up last season.
“We have another challenge this season and I said if it is minus 12 points (which Derby have been hit with already) I am very confident we will stay up.
“We will have to see if anything else comes on top of that but all we can do is keep going out and trying to pick up points.
“We have to be realistic as well, we are where we are, we are bottom of the table but we are bottom through no fault of the players, it is through the punishment we have received.
“So it is important the players see what level they are performing to, where they are in the table from a performance point of view because that can be important to keep that confidence going.”
■■Any update on Colin KazimRichards and Krystian Bielik?
Rooney: “Colin, I think maybe a week after the international break he should be there or thereabouts with training with us.
“Krystian may be a little bit sooner than that in terms of being around the first team and joining in with some of the non-contact training sessions we are doing.
“With Krystian we need to be patient. He has been out for a long time, the second time with a cruciate injury.
“We have to be patient with him. I am not going to rush him back.
“He will have maybe four to six weeks’ training with us to get back up to speed and then we will see where he is at.
“Colin, I am sure, will be a lot smoother in terms of his transition in getting back fully fit. I would imagine he will be a couple of weeks training with us and, hopefully, he is ready for selection.”