We do miss Maats, says fan Robins
MARK Robins admitted that his Coventry City team are missing Ian Maatsen’s quality this season, and even applauded the player after he hit a sublime in-field pass during Saturday’s game.
The former Chelsea loan player, who became a firm fans’ favourite during his season-long loan last term, was booed by pockets of Sky Blues fans whenever he touched the ball on his first return to the CBS Arena where he helped Burnley to a 1-0 Championship victory.
Maatsen is believed to have upset some City supporters after saying the Clarets are a “big” club when he signed for Vincent Kompany’s men on loan in the summer, rather than making a return to Coventry.
Asked for his reaction to the booing of the 20-year-old, whom Robins’ awarded the club’s Young Player of the Year last season, the City boss said: “I’m not surprised by that. I think they like him and that’s probably why they were booing him, because they know what he’s capable of.
“He played one pass inside in the second half and I clapped it. It was just brilliant, and that’s what he did for us last season because it just opens the whole pitch up for you.
“So he’s a top player, there’s no doubt about it, and I probably think we miss him and so I am disappointed that he’s not in our team still.
“But he’s a top player and they have got players in their team who are really good at the top level.
“But they are finding it tough to break teams down and they found it difficult again today.
“But they found a way through and we didn’t find a way through them, and that’s been the difference, although we were really close to getting a decent result against them.”