logo
Ruben Selles demands improvement after Sheff Utd's heavy loss to Bristol City

Ruben Selles demands improvement after Sheff Utd's heavy loss to Bristol City

The Spaniard was appointed into the Bramall Lane hotseat following the surprise sacking of Chris Wilder after the Blades' play-off final defeat, but his stint could not have begun any worse.
Scott Twine's double and goals from Ross McCrorie and Anis Mehmeti ensured Gerhard Struber's first game in charge of the Robins was a much more enjoyable affair.
Tyrese Campbell had levelled for the Blades but this performance will raise big questions about their promotion credentials this term as they were booed off by their unforgiving fans.
'It was absolutely not the start I wanted,' Selles said.
'We were to open in transition and they took great chances, so disappointed on that. I think we can, we should and we must do better.
'We were way too open, we were not structured enough.
'It was a disappointing day. The fans came here to see a performance and see a team chase a win and we end up in a bad day with a bad result.
'I am not going to tell anyone what to say, I think losing 4-1 you can understand it.
'I'm the first one to take responsibility for that. I think there is a second point about doing it together. And then there's a third point about, how do we show that character straight from now, straight from the next 24 hours, when you need to feel that pain, but you need to be sure that you are ready to go again.'
Bristol City boss Struber enjoyed a much more enjoyable first game in charge of his new club.
The Austrian, who managed Barnsley between 2019 and 2020, took over following Liam Manning's move to Norwich and will have liked what he saw.
However, he is not getting carried away after being asked whether promotion was an ambition.
'It was a really good performance for my boys today. We expected a good performance but the result of this level against the opponent on this level, it's a small surprise,' he said.
'But this shows we are in the right way. A win like this at this level gives everyone good self-confidence.'
'I'm not thinking about promotion, thinking about promotion would not help me.
'We should focus completely on ourselves. We have to do so many things on a top way that we should think so much more in the here and now and not what is going on at the end of the season.
'We have 45 games left, it is very important to be focused and close. We want to grow our standard but we are not the team to speak about promotion.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Mikel Arteta leaves fans baffled with 'three year' Arsenal Premier League boast
Mikel Arteta leaves fans baffled with 'three year' Arsenal Premier League boast

Daily Mirror

time2 hours ago

  • Daily Mirror

Mikel Arteta leaves fans baffled with 'three year' Arsenal Premier League boast

Arsenal get their Premier League season underway against Manchester United on Sunday and will hope to finally win a title under Mikel Arteta after finishing third three times under the Spaniard Mike Arteta has already drawn the attention of Arsenal's naysayers after the Gunners boss made a baffling comment in his first press conference of the season. The north London side get the campaign underway with a clash against Manchester United on Sunday as Arteta and co once again target a league title. ‌ Arsenal have seen plenty of investment this summer and signed Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke, Cristhian Mosquera and finally a striker in the shape of Viktor Gyokeres. Sporting director Andrea Berta has been busy in the transfer window and will hope his work has strengthened Arteta's hand. ‌ The Spanish coach has overseen three consecutive second-place finishes in the top-flight and agonisingly missed out on adding Arsenal's first Premier League title. And Arteta remains adamant he will keep working to deliver what is required at the Emirates. ‌ "Yeah, you keep digging, digging, digging and you have to be digging because one day the gold is going to be there. That's all the time. When I've been taught, when I've been educated and that's it," said Arteta. "For three seasons we've had more points than any other team in this league, which is incredible. That's how you have all the consistency. Now we have to do it in a season to have one more point or the same amount of points and more goals different than any other team. That's the objective." The issue with Arteta's hypothesis is that it's not exactly correct. Despite finishing above Manchester City last season, it is Pep Guardiola's side who have still tallied the most points in the last three seasons. City claimed 251 points, Arsenal 247 and Liverpool 233. "Factually incorrect," pointed out one fan, "Second again." "Its hurts to always fail," another added. "'We've had more points than any other team in this league'. Clearly not son, else you'd have three titles, no?" ‌ "Even though he has never reached the lofty height of 90 points, he speaks as if he has experienced a tremendous championship battle," noted a further rival. "Keep digging bro… might find yourself in championship and eventually win it," joked another fan. And with the same sentiment one supporter said: "Keep digging, one day you might end up in Chelsea 's trophy room… still looking for something you can actually win." Nevertheless, Arteta is keen to get the season underway. "I'm super excited, I can't wait. It's been a really productive pre-season. We've made such an evolution in the squad as well and we're ready to go," he said. "The mood of the place, the energy around it, the enthusiasm that the boys, the staff came with from day one, now we're going to do better, to keep improving as a team and to win. That's what drives my energy and that's why I'm so excited." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

Morgan Rogers injury update ahead of Aston Villa vs Newcastle United
Morgan Rogers injury update ahead of Aston Villa vs Newcastle United

Metro

time3 hours ago

  • Metro

Morgan Rogers injury update ahead of Aston Villa vs Newcastle United

Morgan Rogers is fit and available for Aston Villa's Premier League opener against Newcastle United, Unai Emery confirmed. Rogers was a doubt for the opening weekend after picking up an ankle injury in Villa's pre-season clash with Roma. The midfielder, who registered 18 goal involvements in the league last campaign, subsequently missed Villa's last two warm-up games against Marseille and Villarreal. But Emery confirmed that Rogers has recovered in time for their clash with Newcastle at Villa Park on Saturday. Asked about the players who would miss the game, Emery told his pre-match press conference: 'Tomorrow Emi Martinez is suspended, (Andres) Garcia is injured and (Ross) Barkley is not fit.' Metro's new weekly football newsletter: In The Mixer. Exclusive analysis, FPL tips and transfer talk sent straight to your inbox every Friday – sign up, it's an open goal. Villa were denied the final Champions League spot by Newcastle on goal difference last season, and Emery is expecting a tough opener against Eddie Howe's side this weekend. 'It will be very difficult. They have a very good structure tactically and are strong with individual players,' the Spaniard added. 'Collectively, they are such a strong team offensively and defensively to get a lot of duels. 'Our experiences playing against them in three years, winning and losing, hopefully tomorrow at home we can add our supporters pushing us. More Trending 'We have to be intelligent, we have to try to adapt to them tactically and try to win duels. Last year, we finished with 66 points and they finished with 66 points in 38 matches.' Emery continued: 'We're starting again now. They're in the Champions League and we are in the Europa League because the goal difference was so tight. Conceding and scoring is the difference, and they did it. 'Hopefully we can start again, competing against them, showing our power and capacity with our performance in our tactical idea and individual skills.' Newcastle, meanwhile, will be without Alexander Isak, as he continues to push for a move to Liverpool, but will have Anthony Gordon available after he recovered from an ankle issue. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Ruben Amorim reveals if Benjamin Sesko will start for Man Utd against Arsenal MORE: Enzo Maresca makes worrying claim over new £37million Chelsea signing MORE: Destiny Udogie injury update ahead of Tottenham vs Burnley

Mikel Arteta hits back at Arsenal legend over Martin Odegaard captaincy dig
Mikel Arteta hits back at Arsenal legend over Martin Odegaard captaincy dig

Metro

time3 hours ago

  • Metro

Mikel Arteta hits back at Arsenal legend over Martin Odegaard captaincy dig

Mikel Arteta insisted that Martin Odegaard retains the support of his Arsenal teammates after calls for the midfielder to be stripped of the captaincy. Odegaard has captained the Gunners for the past three seasons, leading his side to three successive runners-up finishes in the Premier League, but endured a quieter season last time out, with just 11 goal contributions in the league last season. That reduced output recently led Tony Adams to call for Declan Rice to instead be given the armband, with the former Arsenal captain claiming the Gunners won't win the league with Odegaard as skipper. 'The call is to make Declan Rice the captain. I think Declan is my kind of captain, and it might free Odegaard up to play with a bit more freedom,' Adams said. 'Every now and again as a manager, you have to put someone who reflects you, who reflects the football club that you think can actually take you to the next level. Metro's new weekly football newsletter: In The Mixer. Exclusive analysis, FPL tips and transfer talk sent straight to your inbox every Friday – sign up, it's an open goal. 'He (Arteta) has got an opportunity this year to actually turn into a winner,' he added. 'To win league titles, you have to be a [Jurgen] Klopp, you have to be a [Sir Alex] Ferguson. 'You have to lead by example, you have to be a winner, you have to go about your business. And that reflects in your captain. 'And I'm seeing Declan Rice as a captain but I'm saying to Arteta: Come on, step up now. It's your time to be a winning manager and a fantastic manager, because you're not going to win the league with Odegaard as captain.' But asked about Adam's remarks ahead of Arsenal's league opener against Manchester United, Arteta insisted that neither he nor his players have wavered in their belief that Odegaard is the right man for the job. 'My opinion is clear, and it is the same as all the staff and the players,' the Spaniard said. 'I asked them to vote [for] the captain yesterday and by a mile, by a mile, they all choose the same person, Martin Odegaard. Which is the most clear sign you can have of how the squad feel we can improve.' Former Arsenal keeper David Seaman was another to throw their support behind Odegaard, and said a chance of captaincy risked upsetting the dressing room dynamics on the eve of Arsenal's tough opening league run. 'Yeah Declan would make a good captain but Odegaard is the captain so for me there is no need to change,' Seaman told talkSPORT. 'For me, if you start changing things like that you start upsetting the squad. I wouldn't be happy for starters. 'Declan is always going to be a captain on the pitch already. When I was playing, we had about eight captains on the pitch. More Trending 'For me it doesn't make much of a difference and I know what Odegaard is like off the pitch – he's brilliant being the club captain – so, for me, let's leave it alone and focus on the football rather than the captaincy.' Elsewhere, there was good news on the injury front for Arsenal, with Arteta confirming that both Martin Zubimendi and Leandro Trossard should fit to travel to Old Trafford on Sunday. 'Martin [Zubimendi] has had a great integration in to the team and we are really happy with him. He will be fit for Sunday,' Arteta said. On Trossard, who missed Arsenal's last two pre-season games, he added: 'Yeah I think he's much better, I think he will be able to train again tomorrow and if that's the case, he will be fit.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Ruben Amorim reveals if Benjamin Sesko will start for Man Utd against Arsenal MORE: Benjamin Sesko's agent reveals truth behind Man Utd transfer and Arsenal talks MORE: Arsenal legend names one advantage Spurs have in Eberechi Eze transfer battle

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store