Jakirovic on Morita, positive start and 'sharp' Thomas

Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic has been speaking to the media before Saturday’s Premier League game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Japanese midfielder Hidemasa Morita and defender Charlie Hughes will be out for the match on Saturday. Right-back Brooke Norton-Cuffy and defender Paddy McNair will be available.

• On his team bouncing back from the League Cup defeat to Sunderland: “Everything is fine, the atmosphere is good. Defeats will be defeats, it will be many, many more defeats. It is normal. We want to play good, perform good and try to take some points in the next two games.”
  Advertisement

• Jakirovic said he does not have “any doubt” about new signing Sorba Thomas, who is “sharp and has speed”. Jakirovic says Thomas “suits the team”, adding: “He’s very good in delivery and end product is good. And also very good in set pieces”.

• On positive starts and pressure: “Every game is a new challenge and we will try to play even better than the last three rounds. I’m expecting in every game that we grow and it’s great experience for us now that we have three games behind us”.

• Jakirovic things his side can still play better and improve, insisting they feel no pressure as they have seven points and have not conceded. He said: “Imagine we had one or zero points, then it will be pressure. This excellent confidence, we have to continue like this so we compete and have our chances. Every game you have a chance.”

• On the system his side will play against Chelsea: “Which system we will play depends on our profile, what we have available and then we will see. Chelsea are playing mostly in the low block 5-4-1. They can play out of possession as well because they are quick on the counter attack so it will be interesting.”

• On Chelsea: “I watched Chelsea v Leeds yesterday, it is unbelievable how they are very strong, especially their offensive side. Anyone can decide every game and we have to be even more solid there, aggressive and compact. We will be under pressure, this is 100% because they are a very good team with an excellent coach. It is a great challenge ahead of us and we will try to play good. For me, they will be in the top four 100% because they have this quality.”

Japanese midfielder Hidemasa Morita and defender Charlie Hughes will be out for the match on Saturday. Right-back Brooke Norton-Cuffy and defender Paddy McNair will be available.

On his team bouncing back from the League Cup defeat to Sunderland: “Everything is fine, the atmosphere is good. Defeats will be defeats, it will be many, many more defeats. It is normal. We want to play good, perform good and try to take some points in the next two games.”

Jakirovic said he does not have “any doubt” about new signing Sorba Thomas, who is “sharp and has speed”. Jakirovic says Thomas “suits the team”, adding: “He’s very good in delivery and end product is good. And also very good in set pieces”.

On positive starts and pressure: “Every game is a new challenge and we will try to play even better than the last three rounds. I’m expecting in every game that we grow and it’s great experience for us now that we have three games behind us”.

Jakirovic things his side can still play better and improve, insisting they feel no pressure as they have seven points and have not conceded. He said: “Imagine we had one or zero points, then it will be pressure. This excellent confidence, we have to continue like this so we compete and have our chances. Every game you have a chance.”

On the system his side will play against Chelsea: “Which system we will play depends on our profile, what we have available and then we will see. Chelsea are playing mostly in the low block 5-4-1. They can play out of possession as well because they are quick on the counter attack so it will be interesting.”

On Chelsea: “I watched Chelsea v Leeds yesterday, it is unbelievable how they are very strong, especially their offensive side. Anyone can decide every game and we have to be even more solid there, aggressive and compact. We will be under pressure, this is 100% because they are a very good team with an excellent coach. It is a great challenge ahead of us and we will try to play good. For me, they will be in the top four 100% because they have this quality.”