Perhaps just for the last time because we have spoken about Nelson Oliveira in the last days. So this will be my last comment. I was not content with his reaction. I said that after the game. I totally understand when a player is a little bit angry not to be in the XI so I didn’t go too deep with this situation but it was more the behaviour and how it affects the group. That is the reason I did without him for Swindon.
“In general, not mentioning Nelson, it is quite important for each player and each member of the staff or coaching team that you are always aware it is always about the group, about the club. The club is bigger than one single person. I deeply believe this. The club does not have to fall on its knees and kiss the feet of a player or a coach or head coach. Whatever. It is the other way around. Each and every player, member of staff, head coach has to be thankful to be able to be allowed to work for this club.
“It is a great honour to work for Norwich City. It is a massive club, an amazing club. To earn money to play football and work for this club, for this region and this beautiful city. I think we have the best supporters in the Championship with their passion and togetherness. It is a big honour for each employee to work for them and be responsible for the success. You need than in mind each and every day. If there is a guy who thinks more about themselves then I will act.
“I am not here to win the Nobel Peace prize. I am here to bring a certain working style, attitude and hopefully success. You only have success when you work with a special attitude and style. I would rather do without quality and big names to have this. We have such a wonderful group of players. We spoke many times about Russell Martin and Wes Hoolahan. Russell plays with pain and injections at Fulham. There was a risk but he knew we needed him on the pitch. Steven Naismith has nearly 300 Premier League appearances and 60 games or so for the national side. He asked me if he was allowed to play for the U23s. That is the attitude I want. Sometimes if you speak to a young player and ask them to play for the U23s you get the feeling it is a little below their dignity.
When we speak about Alex Tettey it is quite hard not to bring him on the pitch. He works very hard but I decide to start right now with a different player. I have spoken to him and told him I am really content but we are going with Harrison Reed and James Maddison. He said to me, ‘coach I accept it, if I play 90 minutes or nine minutes or no minutes I will accept it and when you need me I will be there and will train as hard as I can’.
“It is about this attitude. That is why they are idols for the whole team. That is why I am convinced that we will have success. Probably we are not the club with the most opportunities to spend money but we have such a good atmosphere in the whole group and that is our real strength. For sure, Nelson knows he made a mistake. He apologised in front of the group and now for me the topic is finished. He has to prove it on the pitch, in the dressing room but for me it is finished.
“It is not only to criticise Nelson. He knows he deserved that but we have to help him as well. He is not the youngest guy but in the last six years he probably had eight clubs so he needs a club where he can learn and have a group of players who can help him. That is my group here. For sure, it is up to him to improve but we will help him.
“We don’t have to speak about his quality or his potential. He just needs to show 100pc passion for the club, not only for himself, and if he does that he is one of the best strikers in the league. We need his quality. We are looking forward to working with him and bring him to that standard. Then we can have much fun together. Not only is he is a guy with much potential but he has a good heart.”
