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'We can see the process' - Viktor Johansson delivers verdict on Stoke City under Narcis Pelach
Viktor Johansson is ‘100 per cent’ convinced that Stoke City will improve as the season goes on with players buying into an avalanche of information from Narcis Pelach.
Summer signing Johansson is enjoying life on the training ground under the new head coach and expects Stoke to follow a similar path to Norwich City last season, where Pelach was a key figure under David Wagner, as they adapt to a defensive approach focused on space.
Norwich conceded 35 times in their opening 18 games up to this stage of the campaign as they got to grips with new demands – but from this point on had the third best defensive record in the Championship (29 in 28) to end up in the play-offs.
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“Definitely, 100 per cent,” said Johansson, when asked if he saw Stoke improving in the same way.
“There’s so much information to get across. To come in during the season and try to change something is not always easy. You need to drip feed information in so people can get on board and know it 100 per cent. I think he’s done it really well.
“When people say it’s a process, it’s right. As players we can see the process, we know what’s going on behind closed doors, the work that the management are putting in to make our performances go up.
“We can see all the work from Monday to Friday. We have long meetings but they’re very proactive and interesting. I know everyone is buying into it, which is good to see. We’re growing as a group, growing as a club.
“We need time. It will come. Everyone will knows it will come. We’re not worried, we have no doubts, we’re just looking forward to the process and getting there.”
Johansson has been kept busy over the last couple of months and, whatever happens next and with hopefully a little quieter afternoons gradually becoming the norm, he already looks like he is loving life at Stoke.
“I am to be fair,” he said. “I’ve settled in really nicely. We’re growing strongly as a group and I’m really happy at the moment.
“I think I’ve got more to give on the pitch. I’ve definitely got more to give. I like to live in the moment and focus on day to day and I know I’ve got more in the tank. I’m very pleased with how it’s going but I know I’ve got more to give.”
He added: “There are so many things that need to click. I think with the way we play, (opposition) players might get a bit more time outside the box to then shoot but then we’ve got brilliant defenders blocking shots and then I hope I am there when I need to be.
“It’s part of a process. Of course we would like to concede fewer shots but at the same time, we’ve changed the way we play, the way we set up. It’s a lot of information for players. We’re on a good way. We’re not there yet but we’re going to get there.”
He is aware, too, that Pelach’s praise for his performances have come with a caveat of expecting even bigger things to come.
“I agree (with him)!” he said. “There are definitely things I can improve on and the more I play, the more I can improve between the sticks to be as good as I can.”
The emphasis under Pelach, however, has been on the team and building a unit that will eventually mean that the sum is greater than the parts. That is not just the keeper working closely with his back four but with the whole XI and vice versa.
“I think everyone is in a relationship with how we play and that’s the main attribute that this team has,” he said. “Part of the process is knowing what everyone needs to do – if the centre-half goes, for example, the striker knows what he needs to do.
“It’s very important and it’s the first time in my career that it’s been that important. Everyone needs to know everything. I like it. There is so much information to take in that we need to drip feed stuff so that everyone 100 per cent knows and it’s in their spine so to say.
“We are getting more information to develop our game even more.”
The keeper has quickly built a rapport with Stoke supporters but it’s been clear to see that he enjoys that link as much as the fans like him. He almost jumped into the away end to join them at Blackburn after a man of the match performance in a 2-0 win.
He said: “It’s important. I’m a supporter of a team back home, Hammarby, and I really understand the feeling of being a supporter and what you expect from your team’s players. I just always want to give back as much as I can and put a smile on people’s faces. That’s what I do it for, it’s why I enjoy playing so much as well.
“I just enjoy winning and giving back to the people, especially with travelling and early mornings, long hours. I think we do as a team. This team is something special, you can sense that. Everyone is really together and enjoying it.”
And it’s obvious that, well, he gets out of bed in the morning to make saves.
“I always enjoy making saves," he said. "It’s part of my job but it’s why I’m a goalkeeper, I love making saves and being there when I’m needed. But I’m also my biggest critic and if I let one in, I always look back on it to try to find what I should have done, what could I have done differently, just to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
