Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Csaba: ICT won’t lose Irn-Bru fizz
CSABA Laszlo isn’t counting on an Irn-Bru hangover for ICT when he takes Dundee United to the Highlands tonight.
The Caley Jags lifted the lower leagues cup on Saturday with a dramatic win over Dumbarton.
While Csaba knows there’s a chance it’ll prove a distraction tonight, he’s not banking on it.
“This is always 50-50, but as a team they’ve shown against us they can play football. Especially in the first half at Tannadice last week they played a lot of football,” Csaba said.
“In the second half they lost a little bit of shape, a little bit of confidence and we should have won the game.
“But I watched the game against Dumbarton and you saw the same team dominating the game and trying to play football. I think at their own stadium they will do the same.”
To combat that, Csaba wants to see his team right in the opposition faces and determined to impose their style of play on the proceedings.
“We need to stay close to the opponent, we need to create our building-up game more quickly and get the ball moving.
“I think both teams are in the same situation. They played Tuesday and Saturday and now Tuesday again, as we did. I think it depends which team is a little bit fitter, which team has more air.”
United head north with no fresh injury worries but, as he has done for the past couple of games, Csaba will freshen his line-up.
Meanwhile, the gaffer has stressed the arrival of Tangerines legend Paul Sturrock as a temporary coach has had no impact on assistant boss Laurie Ellis’ position.
“Just to make clear Laurie is my coach, he is my No 2.
“Nothing has changed.
“I think some people were thinking we changed Laurie but definitely not.
“Paul is, let’s say, more or less in an advisory role, one in which we can use his experience.”
Between now and the end of the season “Luggy” will, at times, attend training but also take in games around the country to watch future opposition and scout potential signing targets for next term.
Csaba also wants his views on United performances, hopefully right up to the end of a successful play-off campaign.
“I told you already, he who thinks he is wise and knows everything is stupid. You don’t know everything and if you get help this is wiser.”