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Demanding Narcis Pelach rewards Stoke City players for 'giving their all'
Narcis Pelach is giving Stoke City players time off this week as a reward and thank you for the work they have put in during his time in charge.
Pelach’s first answer when asked about his plans for during the international break was just “Sleep!” as he admits he has been demanding since arriving as new head coach in September. Stoke, he says, have produced the highest physical stats in the Championship over his first 10 matches while he has been bombarding the squad with his approach on tactics and technical information too.
There are players who are heading away with their countries but the rest will be able to take a breather with their families before returning to prepare for a trip to Queens Park Rangers on Saturday, November 23.
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Pelach said: “We agreed before the Norwich game that if they got 10 points out of 18 then they could have time off. I know the Championship and this is the last proper time they’ll have to see their family. The Christmas period is hard, it’s not like in my country when you can spend Christmas with your family.
“In the end we’ve picked up nine points but I have to say yes. It’s fair. They deserve it. They’ve been giving it their all.
“It’s not just in the games that you can see but in the training sessions. It’s hard to work with me being the coach. I make it hard. I’m really demanding day by day. So if they give it to me, I have to give them something too so they can have this time.”
A big portion of Stoke players will remain in action. There have been call-ups for Viktor Johansson (Sweden), Tom Cannon (Republic of Ireland), Andrew Moran (Republic of Ireland), Ashley Phillips (England under-20s), Million Manhoef (Netherlands under-21s), Bae Junho (South Korea), Jordan Thompson (Northern Ireland), Lewis Koumas (Wales), Sol Sidibe (England under-18s), Jaden Dixon (England under-18s) and Darius Lipsiuc (Republic of Ireland under-21s) as well as Tommy Simkin (England under-20s), who is on loan at Walsall.
Pelach has been keen to thank players and staff for their commitment over the last few weeks in expectation that they have been setting the foundations for what happens next.
He said: “I’m grateful, not only to the players but to the staff as well. There are people who are working with me now who I didn’t know. But they’re in my staff now and they’re great – not just the coaching staff but the club staff who are supporting me all the time, making my life easier.
“I feel like I don’t deserve that because I have to give them something before they believe in me. But they have chosen to believe in me from the very beginning. I’m very grateful for that and hopefully it’s the beginning of something really nice.”
