Scott Parker spoke to the media this afternoon ahead of Burnley’s return to action against Brighton this weekend.
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Due to a combination of the March international break and the FA Cup quarter finals, the Clarets haven’t played for the last three weeks.
Leading into Saturday’s clash against Brighton at Turf Moor, Parker was asked about a wide range of topics: ranging from how beneficial or otherwise the break was, Axel Tuanzebe’s World Cup heroics, his perceived ‘negative’ or ‘conservative’ approach and what he makes of this weekend’s opponents.
Here’s a selection of what he had to say:
Three-week break
“It's been a long period, probably the longest that I've ever experienced, so obviously down to the fixtures and how they fell as well.
Scott Parker spoke to the media ahead of Saturday's game against Brighton at Turf Moor. Photo: Kelvin Lister-Stuttardplaceholder image
Scott Parker spoke to the media ahead of Saturday's game against Brighton at Turf Moor. Photo: Kelvin Lister-Stuttard
“We had some downtime, gave some players some downtime certainly after the Fulham game just to recuperate, just for many reasons, physically and mentally as well.
“And then since then we've worked pretty tough mate, to be fair, over the last couple of weeks we've worked pretty tough in terms of keeping up with where we need to keep up with and obviously working on things.
“So it's been a good period really, I think it's fair to say coming out the back of it now and looking forward to the weekend, it's been a good period for all of us.”
Can such a long break be problematic? Or have you used it to reset?
“I think it's like anything, there's certain elements to it that you have concerns with, of course, but the predicament is the predicament and the situation is the situation.
“I think there's probably been a balance really. From my side there's been elements which I think has been hugely important for us and needed definitely, like I said, and the main being that probably just to refresh a little bit and just take the players away from this pressure cooker that everyone's in and I think that's probably helped.
“On the flip side, obviously just making sure the balance of work in terms of making sure players are still right out there and I think we've taken that balance really well and obviously now we're going into the weekend really.”
What have you worked on? What's been the focus?
“We've worked on many things really and obviously looking, constantly looking at different elements in terms of a tactical, fitness-wise as well.
“Obviously this part of the season, that balance, it's been a long season and obviously what you don't want to do is tear it off. So that balance of the work we've done as well, but there's been a lot of work that's gone in.”
How important is a break for you personally as well?
“I've tried to do that [switch off]. I often find myself in the moments when it's probably a little bit quiet and you're not on the, I've used this analogy before, you're not on the treadmill and you step off it sometimes when you're thinking more and at certain moments it's hard to come out of that.
“Certainly early on in the break there were some challenges there in that sense where you want to be amongst it still, you want to try and help, you want to be amongst the group and you're feeling like you're missing days in such an important part.
“But at the same time, on reflection, looking back, I think it's also probably been good for me, along with everyone at the club.
“I include absolutely everyone, staff, kitchen, kit men, my staff, my coaches, it's probably been good just to reflect a little bit for sure. But I think more importantly it's just to step off the treadmill, like I've just said, and take stock, have a breather, re-energise, look forward now, just clear focus and clear clarity on what's ahead and at this present moment in time, that's Brighton.”
Pride in Axel Tuanzebe after his World Cup heroics
“Oh, incredible, an incredible achievement and added to that he scores the winner as well.
“So I mean it's been a huge achievement for Axel and obviously Congo as well to go to the World Cup, so yeah, massive achievement for everyone
“Really pleased for Axel as well, obviously coming out of a bit of an injury where he's obviously gone there and obviously got his game in and like I said scored a goal, so we're pleased for that.
“I've seen the adulation he's got since he's been back and rightly so.”
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Brighton
“They're a very good team.
“I think firstly a football club that has got clear direction, you see that in terms of the players they recruit, they're very much similar.
“Managers they recruit, very, very similar and I think the style of play is, whether it's one manager or the last manager or the one before that, their way of playing is very, very consistent.
“This is a team that over the last six, seven years have consistently played that way really and you can see that.
“So a brilliant coach at this moment who's coming off a very good run and had a very good season. So big quality in their team and I think we've seen that over this year and certainly seen it in their last fixtures. So a good side, which we're going to need to be fully prepared for.”
Poor performance at Brighton away, does it have any bearing on this weekend?
“Not really, no. It's not personal to that.
“Brighton was a game where we were second best for a lot of it and we didn't leave anything on them in any sense and probably never felt that they were in a game. So we definitely can't have that performance at the weekend.”
How hard is it to manage expectation without appearing negative or conservative?
“Well, I think one of the biggest things is managing expectation and there's probably certain elements to be honest with you.
“Managing expectation in football has become a huge challenge, of course it has, because the platforms and the opinions of what people form, they become much traction really and they become the main voice really.
“So our expectation this year was first and foremost to try and stay in this division. That was our expectation, that's what we wanted to do. But of course we understood there was a challenge there really.
“So we've tried to manage it, I've tried to manage that internally with a group and you're right in what you say there, when you're delivering that message at certain moments, at certain times, there is always that question that could come across in a negative way.
“But I think first and foremost you work on experiences and you work on how you see what's going to happen, you look at the different scenarios. So there are balances that we've always done.
“Regarding outside expectation, it's probably out of your control and what we can control is what's in here. But outside of that, that is what it is really.
“Of course we all know the noise now, what gravitates around it and what turns out but one minute to be one small little snowball can quickly transpire into one big one and judgements and opinions are made which sometimes are probably a little bit false and sometimes with no context.
“Sometimes people want to hide around the cold hard facts of certain situations and probably bring up something which is more biased to what their thoughts are.”
Does it matter how you play at this point?
“I think it always matters how you play. I think at a certain level, you want to try and get a performance and you want to try and get, fundamentally, a result.
“Referring to last year, that was for the large part, sometimes that was the way it is. For the brilliant performances we had against Plymouth, against whoever it was, where it's this lovely play, there's certain elements that when you need to get over the line and you need to win football matches, you've got to go and win and you've got to have a way about you that can win really.
“So, of course, I think, like we said, this weekend and moving into the last seven, we need to adopt an attitude, which is we want to try and go and win this game.”
Does your team need to show more nastiness?
“Well, I think there's a balance to that. I think that's probably someone's innate personality in terms of what they are on the field and there's many people coming to your mind.
“If I mention someone's name here, you'd say, yeah, he's that sort of player. For sure, there needs to be a fight, but I've never ever questioned that.
“I've questioned that two or three times this year, where I felt we lacked a little bit of fight for large parts this year. I think we'd give every bit of that, really.
“Of course, like anything, every intention in the world, every team that I'd want us to be is this aggressive front-footed team.
“In certain moments, that gets taken away from you in certain times because of what you're playing up against, really.”
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