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Coventry City boss Steven Pressley: There's not enough hurt after defeat
Sky Blues manager says too many players in his squad don't seem too bothered after losing matches
Steven Pressley watches the defeat at Brentford
Coventry City manager Steven Pressley has questioned the commitment of his loan signings and the players whose contracts expire in the summer.
It follows the defeat at Brentford on Saturdaywhen the boss appeared to have some harsh words for on-loan Arsenal striker Chuba Akpom.
Akpom, who replaced Aston Villa asset Nathan Delfouneso in the second half at Griffin Park, used Twitter yesterdayto say he was “back home” and “gonna miss” Sky Blues full-back Cyrus Christie.
He later added: “You don't have to enjoy something to gain from it.”
Pressley has never been a fan of the loan system and admitted recently that he was becoming increasingly frustrated by the fact that Akpom’s regular absencesto play for the Gunners youth team meant that he was finding it difficult to adapt to City’s 4-4-2 style.
But he is clearly dissatisfied with other players, saying: “Losing games should ruin your weekend and I want to see more hurt in the dressing room after we’ve lost.
“It’s hurting me, it’s hurting my staff and I know it’s hurting certain players, but perhaps not enough – I haven’t seen that disappointment in everybody.
“I don’t think it means enough to all of them; I think we have a slight problem in respect of loan players and certain players that are coming towards the end of their contracts.
“At the end of the day they return to their clubs or leave the team at the end of the season and it’s not their concern because it doesn’t affect them moving forward. But for me and the fans it’s a huge concern and I have to make sure we’ve people here with the right attitude.
Steven Pressley has strong words for Chuba Akpom at Brentford “We’ve explained the work ethic that’s expected and I don’t think that everybody has bought into that – I don’t think their minds are really at it just now and that’s a concern of mine.
“They need to start showing that it does affect them; I have to see more from them because, there’s no doubt about it, we need to toughen up.
“We’re fighting a battle here and I’ll select players who will go out there with that level of commitment.”
Having taken the lead with an early Callum Wilson strike, Coventry stunned the promotion-playing Bees with a brilliant penalty save by Joe Murphy who, along with Christie, Franck Moussa and Mark Marshall becomes a free agent at the end of the season.
“We had a warning and Joe made an incredible save but we didn’t learn from that and conceded a soft goal,” said Pressley.
“At the start of the second half they broke from a corner and we had a three on three situation which normally I’m happy with but again we didn’t defend the situation properly and we found ourselves with a mountain to climb.
“We played some terrific football in the first half but we’re not winning enough tackles, and that has to improve – we have to go in there with a real intent.
“We must improve that, show a greater degree of physicality. We’re working hard, getting some good possession, but if you don’t win your tackles at key moments then you lose goals.
“We’re playing a lot of good football but that’s not enough to win games – you have to do the dirty side as well. We need to be more aggressive, more determined in the tackle, and on too many occasions we didn’t show that.”
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Brentford 3 Coventry City 1
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Sky Blues manager says too many players in his squad don't seem too bothered after losing matches
Steven Pressley watches the defeat at Brentford
Coventry City manager Steven Pressley has questioned the commitment of his loan signings and the players whose contracts expire in the summer.
It follows the defeat at Brentford on Saturdaywhen the boss appeared to have some harsh words for on-loan Arsenal striker Chuba Akpom.
Akpom, who replaced Aston Villa asset Nathan Delfouneso in the second half at Griffin Park, used Twitter yesterdayto say he was “back home” and “gonna miss” Sky Blues full-back Cyrus Christie.
He later added: “You don't have to enjoy something to gain from it.”
Pressley has never been a fan of the loan system and admitted recently that he was becoming increasingly frustrated by the fact that Akpom’s regular absencesto play for the Gunners youth team meant that he was finding it difficult to adapt to City’s 4-4-2 style.
But he is clearly dissatisfied with other players, saying: “Losing games should ruin your weekend and I want to see more hurt in the dressing room after we’ve lost.
“It’s hurting me, it’s hurting my staff and I know it’s hurting certain players, but perhaps not enough – I haven’t seen that disappointment in everybody.
“I don’t think it means enough to all of them; I think we have a slight problem in respect of loan players and certain players that are coming towards the end of their contracts.
“At the end of the day they return to their clubs or leave the team at the end of the season and it’s not their concern because it doesn’t affect them moving forward. But for me and the fans it’s a huge concern and I have to make sure we’ve people here with the right attitude.
“They need to start showing that it does affect them; I have to see more from them because, there’s no doubt about it, we need to toughen up.
“We’re fighting a battle here and I’ll select players who will go out there with that level of commitment.”
Having taken the lead with an early Callum Wilson strike, Coventry stunned the promotion-playing Bees with a brilliant penalty save by Joe Murphy who, along with Christie, Franck Moussa and Mark Marshall becomes a free agent at the end of the season.
“We had a warning and Joe made an incredible save but we didn’t learn from that and conceded a soft goal,” said Pressley.
“At the start of the second half they broke from a corner and we had a three on three situation which normally I’m happy with but again we didn’t defend the situation properly and we found ourselves with a mountain to climb.
“We played some terrific football in the first half but we’re not winning enough tackles, and that has to improve – we have to go in there with a real intent.
“We must improve that, show a greater degree of physicality. We’re working hard, getting some good possession, but if you don’t win your tackles at key moments then you lose goals.
“We’re playing a lot of good football but that’s not enough to win games – you have to do the dirty side as well. We need to be more aggressive, more determined in the tackle, and on too many occasions we didn’t show that.”
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Brentford 3 Coventry City 1
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