Krul insists Canaries are now all singing from same song sheet
Tim Krul insists Dean Smith has made Norwich City believe that survival is possible.
The new Canaries boss has taken five points from his first three games since replacing Daniel Farke last month.
They go to Tottenham today, second bottom of the Premier League and three points from safety.
Krul helped his side to a 1-1 draw at former club Newcastle United on Tuesday and feels the Canaries’ mindset has changed.
“We’re also showing a bit more belief. That’s the big word, we now believe we can stay in this league,” the goalkeeper said.
“We’ve worked so hard get to this league and we’re fighting every day to prove that we can stay in the Premier League.
“I think the confidence we’ve taken from the last few games shows us that we can be competitive in any game.
“We don’t have to be scared but we have to be respectful because we’re playing against a top team.
“Defensively, we’re definitely more solid and that’s not just as a defensive unit, that’s as a team.”
Norwich have beaten Tottenham just once in their last eight league meetings, but knocked them out of the FA Cup on penalties in 2020.
Antonio Conte’s men beat Brentford 2-0 on Thursday and Krul knows, despite captain Harry Kane scoring just once in the Premier League this season, Spurs remain a potent attacking threat.
“Harry Kane and Heung-min Son are amazing players. I know I’m probably going to be busier than the last few weeks, so you have to prepare in the right way,” he said.
“With these top strikers, they can hit you with shots from any angle at any time. So we’ll have to be on our game as a defensive unit.
“I’m excited for the challenge. It’s a beautiful stadium and it’s another exciting challenge for us as a club.”
Leeds United manager, Marcelo Bielsa, has hailed the performances of goalkeeper Illan Meslier as his side prepare to face a daunting run of fixtures.
Today’s home game against Brentford is followed by away matches at Champions League finalists Chelsea and Manchester City, the visit of Arsenal to Elland Road and a trip to Anfield to face Liverpool.
Bielsa’s side have at least been buoyed by keeping consecutive clean sheets in the draw at Brighton and Tuesday’s win over Crystal Palace, with Bielsa acknowledging the importance of Meslier’s contribution.
“He’s a goalkeeper with a lot of personality,” Bielsa said of the 21-year-old Frenchman.
“He transmits security. He has weighed in with decisive interventions, and they are interventions that have the same weight as a goal in our favour and he’s resolved these type of actions.”
The victory over Palace on Tuesday, coupled with Brentford’s defeat to Tottenham two days later, means
Leeds are now just a point behind their opponents in the table.
Bielsa has been impressed with what he has seen of the Premier League newcomers so far, with Thomas Frank’s side enjoying wins over Arsenal, Wolves, West Ham and Everton, as well as a thrilling 3-3 draw with Liverpool.
He said: “Normally teams go adapting to the amount of days of rest they have, and our objective is the intensity that identifies us.
“So far Brentford have shown to be a different team in the Premier League. The most novel thing I’ve seen is the amount of elements that they attack with, and the management they have of the ball in all the sectors of the pitch.
“They are a team that always attacks with six players, they have a genuine rush to be protagonists, and they always try to keep the ball.”
Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers believes James Maddison is rediscovering his best form.
The 25-year-old endured a difficult
start to the season and was benched for six games in September and October as he struggled for performances.
However, Maddison excelled in wins against Manchester United and Spartak Moscow on his return to the team, and has continued to impress recently with three
goals and three assists in his last three matches in all competitions.
“It’s about consistency and working very hard, and when he is at that level, he is an outstanding player,” said Rodgers ahead of the visit to Aston Villa.
“He was a catalyst for us in the Southampton game. His goal and his courage to go and take the ball and his creating space. James is clever, he’s bright and he finds space well.
“But not only that, towards the end of the game he was getting back and making blocks and working very hard for the team.
“It is just getting that run of consistency now and backing up all that good play over many games, that is the challenge for James.”