Tough to Tyke!
ISMAEL HITS OUT AT CRITICS SLAMMING ‘DIRECT’ BARNSLEY STYLE
BARNSLEY’S bid to reach the Premier League is based on long balls and aggression – but boss Valerien Ismael does not give a monkey’s who that offends.
The unfashionable Tykes have surprised everyone by muscling into the Championship play-off picture.
Ismael’s approach is all about a relentless high press and a collective desire – and it’s attracting plenty of criticism. The snipers in recent weeks include Blackburn boss Tony Mowbray, Birmingham player Yan Valery and Derby manager Wayne Rooney.
Rooney said after Wednesday’s 0-0 at Oakwell: “Barnsley are the most direct team I have ever seen. We thought the best way was to play them at their own game and get in their faces.”
Frenchman Ismael is growing tired of such criticism – even if it is sometimes a back-handed compliment.
The uncompromising Tykes boss said: “We are seeing opponents completely change their formation against us – then afterwards try to find some excuse about the pitch or the way Barnsley play.
“We need more respect for our work. “Why do teams not enjoy playing against us? Because we give everything from the first minute to the last. We respect the opponent but we are fearless and are always focused on ourselves.
“I’m asking, ‘What can I change from the bench to win the game?’ I want to always play with energy, intensity and a high press. We believe we can beat any team. We feel it.”
Ismael, who won the Bundesliga as a player with Bayern Munich and Werder Bremen, cut his managerial teeth coaching German second teams at Hannover and Wolfsburg.
He had spells in charge of Nurnberg, Wolfsburg, Greek side Apollon Smyrnis and Austrian club Lask, before landing at Oakwell last autumn.
Since Ismael took charge, only Norwich City have collected more Championship points than Barnsley.
Players such as Callum Brittain, Alex Mowatt, Callum Styles and Cauley Woodrow have thrived under his guidance. Centre-half Michal Helik has scored five goals and been named in the Poland squad for the first time.
Forward Conor Chaplin insisted: “I promise you, we could not care less what people say about us.
“It doesn’t matter what any teams or individual players and managers think.
“Yes, there is a ferocious intensity in our press but we’re not going to stop or change for anyone. We know how we’re going to play in order to get three points and that’s all we care about.
“As a collective – the players and all the staff behind the scenes – we are in such a good place right now.”
Ismael added: “We want to continue making progress. Let’s see what we can achieve in the next two months.”
SHINJI KAGAWA is the only player to have been managed by both Sir Alex Ferguson and Jurgen Klopp.
And, according to the Japan international, the only thing they have in common is a burning desire to win.
Kagawa, 31 and at Greek club POAK, made his name playing for Klopp at Borussia Dortmund when the Kop boss was building his reputation by winning back-to-back Bundesligas.
That paved the way for a £17million move to Manchester United in 2012 – when Ferguson lifted the last of his 13 Premier League titles before announcing his retirement.
It was a tough learning curve for the attacking midfielder at Old Trafford – peaking with a hat-trick against Norwich before he was sold back to Dortmund at the end of his second season.
Kagawa’s memories are of a German who showed nothing but love to his players and a Scot who would fly into such red-faced rages that even the biggest stars were too scared to challenge him.
“There are so many memories with Jurgen Klopp that it’s hard to pick just one,” said Kagawa, in his role as an ambassador for Laureus Sports (below).
“But if I were to describe him, he is a manager that has true love for his players.
“He’s always thinking about his players, supporting them in important moments when they’re on the pitch.
“So, as a player, I was always able to take to the pitch without any concern.
“I always felt there was nothing to fear as long as I followed his lead. That’s the type of manager he was.”
Kagawa added: “Unlike Jurgen, Sir Alex was a manager that everyone knew.
“Jurgen was still a young manager and did not have any titles under his belt, so while he was very well known in Germany, he wasn’t known around the world. But everyone knew Sir Alex Ferguson and respected him, so I had no hesitation in taking up the opportunity to play for him.
“When Sir Alex shouted at half-time and players like Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes weren’t able to say a word back, I realised he was a man of great stature.
“I also noticed that he demanded a lot from the more experienced players over the youngsters like myself. This was his style of management.
“I saw for myself
that he would turn bright red when he yelled. He would really let it out at every single game. It was allowed because he was Sir Alex.”
Kagawa was 21 when Klopp brought him to Europe in a £275,000 deal with Cerezo Osaka.
At the end of his first season, Dortmund had won their first title in nine years and Kagawa was named in the Bundesliga team of the year. He was even more influential as Klopp’s team retained their crown by eight points over Bayern Munich.
Kagawa said: “It’s almost unreal to be able to experience winning the Bundesliga in your first year in Europe – and then again in your second year.
“I look back on my encounter with Klopp as a form of destiny. I hadn’t experienced failure and I was full of confidence and drive.
“I felt like everything was so easy. Of course, I learned later on in my career that things aren’t so easy and my confidence was broken. Looking back, meeting Klopp and playing for Dortmund was a truly amazing experience for me.”
When Ferguson wanted to take Kagawa to Old Trafford in the summer of 2012, it was an offer he felt compelled to accept once he had met the United manager.
Kagawa added: “I wanted to speak with Ferguson before I committed, so I met him at a Manchester hotel.
“I was totally blown away by his aura and character.
“He was already around 70 then, but he had a presence beyond my imagination.
“It was a shame I spent only a year with him, but he was a manager who made a lasting impression.”
BRENDAN RODGERS has warned Kelechi Iheanacho he is in for a battle to be Leicester’s main man.
The Nigerian striker has stepped up after injury problems surrounding Foxes spearhead Jamie Vardy.
Iheanacho has netted four times in his last seven outings – including twice in his last two Premier League games – and the 24-year-old forward is gaining in confidence.
But while boss Brendan Rodgers is pleased with his contribution, he also said that he may struggle to unseat Vardy, who is 10 years his senior.
Rodgers explained: “I have empathy for Kells – it’s not an easy role for him or any striker coming in, when you have someone of Jamie’s quality in front of you.
“I know where Jamie is at. I recognise his speed and his hunger.
“Of course, the body moves through time very quickly.
“And when players get older it’s not so much about their age but how they perform that dictates how they are going to play.
“Kells has done very well in there but moving forward we may need another striker.
“A t this moment in time, he’s important. It’s not about him becoming the main guy – we will always need another striker.”
Iheanacho has kept his head down since his £25million move from Manchester City in August 2017 initially turned sour. He struggled to nail down a place in the side due to Vardy’s prolific striking rate and has found himself sidelined as Rodgers prefers to play with wingers either side of his main forward.
The Foxes boss (below) added: “A lot of the time we have played with one up front with two wingers.
“That’s meant Jamie has played because of the level he’s at.
“At times, we have played two up front, Kells has gone up there and been really effective. In the main, he’s done very well for us.
“In one game, against Crystal Palace, he wasn’t at his best. But he’s been first-class and once he got that rhythm back, he’s showed up very well.
“Kells has been great, he never misses training and we’ve tried to improve his confidence and be specific with certain areas of his game.
“And yes, he’s had times when his confidence has been down but we have tried to build it back up, so that when he arrives into the game he can make a contribution.
“His goals against Burnley and Fulham, and against Brighton last week, show his quality.
“He’s been a great understudy for us and, in the main, he always give his all and produces.
“He’s been a joy. No trouble whatsoever. All in all, Kells is a very important member of the squad.”
DEPUTY DOGGED Iheanacho knows Vardy will always be Foxes top dog