Gus Poyet is looking for his players to learn from last season’s fifth round experience at Liverpool when they host Arsenal on Saturday.
The Seagulls were knocked out of the FA Cup following a 5-1 defeat at Anfield, a lesson which the Albion boss has learned from and he wants an intelligent performance from his players too.
Poyet told seagulls.co.uk, “I’m learning from last year and I want to make sure we don’t give everything up within 30 minutes. The first 35 or 40 minutes against Liverpool were very good for us and we were playing to a high standard, but then we were over and there was only one team on the pitch.
“That means that the tension affected us and we lost it mentally and physically. We know the opposition will have the chances because they have quality and fitness. They can run and sprint for longer because they are Premier League players, so we need to be smarter on Saturday.
“I want my team to play the same kind of football but be more intelligent than we were last year. The players need to defend better when they haven’t got the ball and we need to manage to deal with a top team. I want us to show the world of football that we are a decent team.”
The Uruguayan comes up against Arsene Wenger for the first time in his managerial career, a manager he has huge admiration for after what he has achieved at the north London club.
“He has got to be up there with the best in English football. Sir Alex Ferguson is the best in terms of time at the club and what he has won but Wenger has got to be second. It’s the dream of every manager to be at a club with the support of the whole club behind you, allowing you to play a certain way.
“The club stick with him through good times and bad times, although finishing fourth is not a bad time nowadays. It’s a perfect situation for the manager.
“I would like to emulate what Arsene has done at Arsenal. I don’t necessarily support the team but I like watching them play. When I watch football I watch teams that I can learn from and Arsenal are one of those teams. I really enjoy watching them play.
“The manager who goes in there after Wenger will be very lucky. The club has had an identity for a very long time so if a manager comes in playing the same way he will be in a good position.”
Original article
The Seagulls were knocked out of the FA Cup following a 5-1 defeat at Anfield, a lesson which the Albion boss has learned from and he wants an intelligent performance from his players too.
Poyet told seagulls.co.uk, “I’m learning from last year and I want to make sure we don’t give everything up within 30 minutes. The first 35 or 40 minutes against Liverpool were very good for us and we were playing to a high standard, but then we were over and there was only one team on the pitch.
“That means that the tension affected us and we lost it mentally and physically. We know the opposition will have the chances because they have quality and fitness. They can run and sprint for longer because they are Premier League players, so we need to be smarter on Saturday.
“I want my team to play the same kind of football but be more intelligent than we were last year. The players need to defend better when they haven’t got the ball and we need to manage to deal with a top team. I want us to show the world of football that we are a decent team.”
The Uruguayan comes up against Arsene Wenger for the first time in his managerial career, a manager he has huge admiration for after what he has achieved at the north London club.
“He has got to be up there with the best in English football. Sir Alex Ferguson is the best in terms of time at the club and what he has won but Wenger has got to be second. It’s the dream of every manager to be at a club with the support of the whole club behind you, allowing you to play a certain way.
“The club stick with him through good times and bad times, although finishing fourth is not a bad time nowadays. It’s a perfect situation for the manager.
“I would like to emulate what Arsene has done at Arsenal. I don’t necessarily support the team but I like watching them play. When I watch football I watch teams that I can learn from and Arsenal are one of those teams. I really enjoy watching them play.
“The manager who goes in there after Wenger will be very lucky. The club has had an identity for a very long time so if a manager comes in playing the same way he will be in a good position.”
Original article