Nigel: It’s worth it if the players can learn from that
NIGEL Clough says Burton Albion’s Carabao Cup semi-final humbling at the hands of Manchester City will be worth it if his players learn from what they came up against.
Gabriel Jesus’s four goals were added to by efforts from Kevin De Bruyne, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Phil Foden, Kyle Walker and Riyad Mahrez as a star-studded City side triumphed 9-0.
Clough said heading into the game that he wanted his side to develop from the experience they would gain at the Etihad Stadium – and what a steep learning curve it turned out to be for a largely young Brewers outfit.
Emerging from the dressing rooms after the game, Clough said: “What we just said to them in there was, if Manchester City get to the semi-finals of the Champions League, they could well play those front five – De Bruyne, David Silva, Leroy Sane, Jesus and Mahrez.
“They could be playing in the Champions League semifinal this season.
“So it’s no disgrace when we can’t get near them. Most of the Premier League can’t get near them, so halfway up League One, we’re not expected to.
“If they take a little bit out of the quality of people like David Silva, just what they do and how they receive the ball, the movement and things like that, then it’ll be worth it.”
The Brewers finished with five academy graduates on the field: Reece Hutchinson, Marcus Harness, Ben Fox, Joe Sbarra and John Brayford, who began his career with the club.
“We can’t buy that sort of experience, we can’t give them that,” added Clough.
“For those young players who have come through our academy to get on the pitch, just to get an idea of what the top players are like and the atmosphere of playing in front of whatever the crowd was, in a magnificent stadium, that will help them more than anything we can do for them. “So we were very pleased to get the youngsters on and for them to get a little taste of it.
“We tried to pass it around a little bit when we could.
“We weren’t physical, we didn’t kick City, I don’t think we got a booking, did we? Maybe we should have done.
“It wasn’t that sort of night. I think our experienced defenders could have done better on two or three.
“I don’t think Brad Collins did a lot wrong and he’s conceded nine goals.
“It’s not pleasant for him and not pleasant for us at times. But it’s the bigger picture.”
It’s no disgrace we can’t get near them. Most of the Premier League can’t get near them. Nigel Clough