POST-MATCH PRESS CONFERENCE: Sarcevic’s thoughts on Cambridge defeat

Duration: 5:51 1286 transcript words EN summary

Video summary

Following a disappointing home defeat against Cambridge, team captain Sarcevic addressed the press with a candid reflection on his side's performance, acknowledging that the match did not reflect their usual standards. He admitted that for significant portions of the game, the team was unable to play with the front-foot aggression and confidence they typically display, resulting in a night where both defensive boxes failed them. Sarcevic emphasized that while the loss is frustrating, especially given the rarity of consecutive defeats for this squad, the group has already identified the specific issues in the changing room and is fully committed to rectifying them before Saturday's next fixture. He noted that losing at home is something the team is not accustomed to, but expressed confidence in their ability to bounce back quickly, a trait they have demonstrated throughout previous seasons despite occasional rough patches. The captain highlighted the importance of maintaining emotional balance within the squad, stressing that the team must avoid getting "too high with the highs" or "too low with the lows." He pointed out that while the two goals conceded came at moments when they were controlling the game, such defensive lapses are not characteristic of their identity. Sarcevic assured fans and observers that the players are aware of exactly what went wrong and are focused on moving forward rather than dwelling on the disappointment. This resilience is crucial as the team prepares to return home for another match, with the collective mindset shifting immediately from analyzing the errors to preparing for the upcoming challenge, ensuring that a single bad result does not snowball into a more serious crisis. A significant portion of the discussion centered on the integration of new players arriving at the end of the transfer window, which Sarcevic views as essential for refreshing the squad's energy and confidence. He explained that these new faces are expected to bring enthusiasm and a desire to help the team achieve success again this season, building upon the good foundation laid last year. The captain believes that having fresh talent is particularly beneficial during a busy period of the competition, as it allows the existing group to maintain high standards while welcoming newcomers who are eager to understand the club's culture and expectations. He hopes that some of these new players witnessed the strong fan support despite the result, reinforcing the message that the entire club stands together regardless of the scoreline. Ultimately, Sarcevic concluded by describing the post-match atmosphere in the dressing room as a collaborative effort between the manager and the players to address the night's failures. He noted that the squad is relatively new in its current composition, with many veterans from his own time still present, creating an environment where everyone shares a responsibility to correct mistakes immediately. The focus remains strictly on learning from the defeat and ensuring that the new additions settle in quickly to contribute to the team's goals. With the competition ramping up and the need for a successful season ahead, the captain is optimistic that the combination of experienced leadership and fresh energy will allow the team to overcome this setback and return to their winning form by Saturday.

Read the full video transcript

Well, Anthony, obviously one of the the jobs of the captain at times is explaining away a very difficult night. I mean, you must be kicking yourself as a team tonight. >> Yeah, 100%. Um, you know, we were coming in tonight really wanting to put a right from Saturday and that wasn't us at all and for [music] large periods of the night tonight, you know, we we were back to to what we are and front foot creating chances. I guess it's just one of them nights that both boxes weren't what we usually at our standards and you know, we've we've notified and rectified that in the change room after the game. Like I said, it's a great group. We know what you know what we did wrong tonight and what we can do better and and the aim is to do that Saturday. >> Do you have sort of games like that when you bit everyone's a bit mystified as how you come off with with nothing? Yeah, I think I wouldn't say misfire because we know exactly what the problem was tonight and that's two goals that really isn't usually like us as a team and and especially losing at home isn't something that a lot of us are used to and um yeah, it's just really frustrating but you know in football I come around quick and we're we're home again Saturday. We know we're going to be back as usual and we need to make sure we put it right. I was going to say, does that help a little bit knowing you straight back ear sort of thing, so you could, you know, rip the plaster off a little bit of just, you know, get that out of the system? >> Yeah, 100%. I think last year we had spells and moments throughout the season where, you know, we had nights like tonight and I think everyone knows that we've got a a gaffer that knows how to bounce back and we've got a squad of players that know how to bounce back and that's exactly what we we aim to do Saturday. I >> was going to say it's very unusual for this team to lose two in a row, isn't it? as you said, you know, the response is normally always always there. >> Yeah, exactly. Um I think tonight, you know, a team similar to ourselves last year, you know, come up, started season well, came here with a lot of confidence, but I think like I said, for large parts, we we were probably largely a better team, but listen, both boxes is was the reason why we didn't come away with three points tonight. And like I said, we we know that we've talked about in the chess room and we'll be in tomorrow getting ready for Saturday. >> Both their goals both came at a time when you're on the front foot in it. You know, it was basically all in their half and suddenly out of nothing. >> They Yeah. Listen, like I said, the two goals aren't like us. It's not been like us for a while, but it's happened. You know, we'll be the first ones to hold our hands up and we'll be first ones to rectify it. And like I said, we'll be doing that, making sure we do that on Saturday. Obviously a few new faces coming in, you know, end of the window. There's been a bit of a flurry. So there's there's a lot of players there as the competition's built up again, hasn't it? >> 100%. I think we need that. Um, everyone needs that. You know, we it's 100% a squad game. The gaffer always says that the new lad will be in and hopefully they, you know, they come in and and help this squad that's already had a a good time last season and we want to do the same this season. So hopefully they come in, you know, they feel the energy from everyone at the club and and they can help us try and achieve something again this season. >> Say they sort of say, you know, new faces sort of freshen things up a little bit. Is that a good little thing to have and perhaps at a time when you know, you've had a sticky week like >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's really good. I think you know they're new to it and they'll be full of energy, full of confidence and and wanting to help the team and that's exactly what we need if we're going to have a successful squad and have a successful season. That's exactly what we need. And Anthony, what's what's the dressing room like in defeat? Does the is it is it quiet? Does the manager lead things? Do the players sort of lead things? How is it? >> Yeah, a bit of both. It's just like I said, it's a it's a quite new dressing room. There's a lot of lads that have been here since my time uh being here and and like I said, it was something a lot of us aren't used to suffering a defeat here at home. But we we went in, we said our bit, the gaffer said his bit. Like I said, we we know exactly what the problem was tonight. And you know, we're not going to get too high with the highs, too low with the lows. You know, we're going to be in tomorrow, we'll do our stuff like we always do about the game and and it's straight focus on Saturday. >> And when you say about not getting too high, not getting too low. Um, does that give you confidence that, you know, two games back to back doesn't sort of snowball into something more more dramatic? Because, as Sim said, you've tended to react well in the past. >> Yeah, exactly. I think was in a worse spot at one point last season where, you know, we were shipping goals. We couldn't find a win after an unbelievable start last season. We had a similar start to this season and we we've just now faced two defeats in a row, which is not usually like us and and and this squad of players in this club. So, we know that we know exactly what we need to do and and like I said, we'll be heads down ready for Saturday. And in in terms of the new lads coming in, I mean, Gaffer sort of referred that they're coming in in a busy period, but is it about just making sure they understand the standards at at this club and what's expected of of them? >> Yeah, I think anyone who signs this club, I think everyone who signed, I think the first thing they say, well, what I've noticed is the fan base, the size of the club. So, they know exactly what they're coming into. And and maybe hopefully a few of them were there tonight to to see the to see what the backing that we get week in week out. And like I said, it's not very often that we get that frustration at the end of home games and and that's the disappointment of from the lads in the changing room because we we don't want that. We want them the fans with us like they always are. And and like I said, we'll be we'll be make sure the new lads betting well and and ready to help us as soon as they can. >> Brilliant. Thank you very much.