Roberto’s Praise For Derby County Manager Clough

Tuesday, 3 March 2009, 8:12
1 min read

The Swansea City managed acknowledged the job done by Nigel Clough since taking over at Derby earlier this season.

Clough spent a long apprenticeship at Burton Albion before stepping up to Derby with his former side looking dead certs for promotion to the football league.

And despite Derby's relative low league position, the Swans boss recognised the job that he has done since Paul Jewell was replaced after a horrendous year.

Speaking to the Evening Post on the eve of the game, Roberto said "Now Nigel has taken over as manager they are a completely different side

"From the outset he has absorbed the pressures of the club.

"He is allowing the players to enjoy their football — letting them know that playing in front of 30,000 people should be a positive not a negative.

"Before that I think they were feeling the pressure and they were a little cagey, but he has given them a lot of freedom and they look a new side.

"It's not just the Clough name which takes the pressure off the players. Probably that will work for one game, but after that it's the way you allow the players to express themselves.

"That surname maybe means they have the belief the fans — I think he was the fans' choice which is important — and that's important because there is no patience in football. People will give you some margin for error.

"Since Nigel took over I think the table doesn't reflect the real position or the real threat of Derby County as a team and as a football club at the moment," Martinez added.

"But to see them where they are in the league while we are fighting to get into the top six speaks volumes about what we have done this season.

"The boys are excited about our situation. We are going into the last 12 games of the season and our aim is a play-off place — that puts a smile on everyone's face. It's not as if we have something to lose. We have everything to gain."

Images courtesy of Getty Images, Athena Picture Agency and Swansea City Football Club.

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