Oscar Garcia is encouraging his players to enjoy the challenge of the play-offs as Derby County visit the Amex in a semi-final first leg tie tomorrow, 7.45 kick-off.
The Brighton & Hove Albion head coach says that County’s two league victories over his side earlier in the season have no great significance, and believes that anything is possible in football.
He told seagulls.co.uk, “Big players want to play in these games and tomorrow is a big game. Everyone needs to enjoy playing in these games, whether you are a manager or player.
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“We know that we are the underdogs, as they finished third and are the top scoring team in the league.
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“They beat us home and away this season, but anything can happen in football and we trust that all the players in the squad will fight for our place.”
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Oscar is now counting on his players to maintain their momentum going into the two legs, after Saturday’s dramatic victory over Nottingham Forest.
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“We showed great character and never gave up, but it is always been a characteristic of this team.
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“It is a great achievement what we have done, but we don’t want to stop now and need to keep going.
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“It is what I ask of the players; to be better every day and to improve. I don’t care about their age, you need to have the mentality to improve every day and the players have done that this year.”*
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Oscar admits he has little experience of a play-off like system, having only experienced a mini-league format during his time as Hapoel Tel Aviv manager, but says the focus is simply just to win both matches.
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“Last season we played a play off in Tel Aviv but not like this. It was more like a mini league.
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“We want to win both games and we will play with this mentality as it is the best one.”
Original article
The Brighton & Hove Albion head coach says that County’s two league victories over his side earlier in the season have no great significance, and believes that anything is possible in football.
He told seagulls.co.uk, “Big players want to play in these games and tomorrow is a big game. Everyone needs to enjoy playing in these games, whether you are a manager or player.
*
“We know that we are the underdogs, as they finished third and are the top scoring team in the league.
*
“They beat us home and away this season, but anything can happen in football and we trust that all the players in the squad will fight for our place.”
*
Oscar is now counting on his players to maintain their momentum going into the two legs, after Saturday’s dramatic victory over Nottingham Forest.
*
“We showed great character and never gave up, but it is always been a characteristic of this team.
*
“It is a great achievement what we have done, but we don’t want to stop now and need to keep going.
*
“It is what I ask of the players; to be better every day and to improve. I don’t care about their age, you need to have the mentality to improve every day and the players have done that this year.”*
*
Oscar admits he has little experience of a play-off like system, having only experienced a mini-league format during his time as Hapoel Tel Aviv manager, but says the focus is simply just to win both matches.
*
“Last season we played a play off in Tel Aviv but not like this. It was more like a mini league.
*
“We want to win both games and we will play with this mentality as it is the best one.”
Original article