Morais believes ‘what I am doing is best that can be done’ as Barnsley face peril of drop
UNDER-FIRE Barnsley head coach Jose Morais insists that he is the right man for the Oakwell position and holds no fears about potentially being replaced if the club are relegated.
The third-from-bottom Reds’ two-season stint in the Championship will end if they fail to beat play-off chasing Brentford at home tomorrow and fellow strugglers Bolton Wanderers win at Burton Albion.
Morais’s side head into the season-defining game at a low ebb following a lamentable 3-0 midweek loss at Nottingham Forest, with his team selection drawing strong censure from sections of the Barnsley support, who have seen their side win just once in their past 11 games.
Despite the welter of criticism aimed at him both on the radio and on social media, the Portuguese – who has won just two of his 13 matches in charge so far and taken 11 points from a possible 39 available – retains confidence in his abilities to transform Barnsley’s fortunes given time.
On supporters questioning his position, Morais – who signed an 18-month deal when he took over from Paul Heckingbottom in mid-February – said: “I am not thinking about this. I really believe I am the right man.
“You are not always the one who pleases everyone and I am not expecting to please everybody in life.
“But I believe in what I am doing and really believe that what I am doing is the best that can be done.”
Barnsley’s current standing of 22nd in the Championship is the same position that the club were in when Morais was handed the reins just 70 days ago with his first remit being to save the club from relegation.
But despite a lack of discernible progress in terms of results, the 52-year-old remains hopeful that he will be given the time to turn around the club’s longer-term fortunes.
On the prospect of being sacked, Morais said: “This is not the way I see things. I see things in a totally different perspective.
“I see things moving forward and believe in things that I have built and what I can build.
“I believe time is paying off and believe in organisation that is creating stability and continuity.”
On whether he will view the season as a failure if the Reds relinquish their Championship status, Morais categorically added: “No, definitely not. I did – and am doing – the best.
“I believe that with time everything is possible. This is the reason why I am here.
“If I am here to think about myself something is wrong. I am thinking about the team and themselves and what they believe they can do in a game. It is not about me, but the game.
“We have shown fight even if, in some moments, some players do not look like (that).
“But the intention is positive and they want to fight and I believe every player on the pitch has the will to fight.
“We still have to believe in the possibilities we have (this season) even if everything is not in our hands as we depend on other results.
“But if we win our games, we will see. I believe in our possibilities because I believe in the best of me and in the best of the players.”
Barnsley, who have won once at home since early November, will be without injured duo Lloyd Isgrove and Matt Mills for tomorrow’s game.