After losing 2-1 to Hibs at Pittodrie, Manager Jimmy Thelin made it clear that he wants to see a lot more competitive spirit from his team if they are going to start climbing the league table.
“I think the game started okay, we created some good chances, but when we missed these chances, Hibs started creating more and they had momentum in the game. In the second half it was a quite open game, but they were much, much stronger in the competitive side of the game.
“The transitions they created hurt us a lot, quite similar to Thursday night. In that point of view we didn’t show our fans that we were back on track or competitive enough to deserve a better result today.
“After the game against Athens, we wanted to go out and show our fans the right side of us, but we did not have that energy we need, and that was not good enough. The way we defended some of the transitions today, it was just too easy for Hibs. It has to be much, much more difficult to arrive to our box.
“We have a journey to do as a collective, but also as individual players to make a difference on the pitch. It’s a collective sport, but there are individuals inside this team. We need to grow with the ball, but it’s also how we defend situations that has to be much, much better. The simple thing in football is the competitive side, and we are not good enough.
“My job as a manager is to try to get results in the club I’m working for, so I am responsible for the results. We need to do better, everybody knows as a manager if the results don’t turn around, then you are under hard pressure.
“Our feeling was that after Dundee, we were going in the right direction, then we get a really hurtful game against Athens and we were hoping we can bounce back a little bit today at home in front of our fans. But again, if you don’t have the competitive side, it doesn’t matter about the system, it doesn’t matter who plays, if we lose too many of these battles inside the game. Right now we are struggling there. It’s not about strategy or tactics, it’s about this individual responsibility.
“I take responsibility for this team and the results, it’s my job, but also as an individual in a football team you have to take responsibility for your performance and how you show up into the games. Everybody has to turn it around really quick and show they are fighting for something, you’re fighting for your own prestige, you’re fighting for the club you’re working for. We have to show much, much more of that than what we’re doing right now. I’m a strong believer we can turn it around, but it’s up to everyone now to go out there and do what we have to do on the pitch. We have to step up.”
