Paul Heckingbottom held his first pre-match press conference today looking ahead to Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final against Chelsea. Here is every word the Sheffield United manager had to say on the key themes to emerge from Bramall Lane this week.
How have you gone about picking players up this week and have there been some frank discussions?
Paul Heckingbottom said “First thing is looking forward. What’s gone has gone and everything is about looking forward. We have an FA Cup quarter-final. You could have a 15-20-year career and not play in too many FA Cup quarter-finals. That has been the focus this week. In terms of discussion we have just spoken about expectations in terms of what the players are wanting and where they think things have slipped for themselves. And then my expectations of how I like to work and what I expect from them and just making it clear that if no one’s at it in training and someone is not giving their all, they won’t play. It’s easy for me to say that but regardless of results we want standards and application to get back to the levels that saw the team have all that success and just laying the foundations.”
Billy Sharp’s interview after Leicester match was a tough watch, do players now owe it to themselves to finish the season as well as they can?
Paul Heckingbottom said “Of course they do. It’s tough. I have been in dressing rooms similar to that and it’s been an amazing journey together but the players are still here and that’s been my message. I have stepped up and that’s been my message. I am here for you guys and if I am not giving my best and pushing you I am letting you down. That’s how we are trying to approach it. It’s been an emotional week and the players have to protect themselves and their careers now moving forward.”
Is Chelsea up next the perfect game at the minute, a chance to still make this season very special?
Paul Heckingbottom said “Definitely. In terms of motivation and the size of the game and a carrot being dangled for you it doesn’t come any bigger. It’s a great game for us and a game to give everything in. It’s a one-off game and anything can happen on that day regardless of form and expectations of Chelsea.”
Rhian Brewster, how is he after suffering racial abuse and what more can be done?
Paul Heckingbottom said “It’s a question you get asked all the time, what more can be done? There’s got to be a hell of a lot more done by the powers that be, the social media platforms there has to be a stance made at some point, it’s too easy to put things out there, there’s no accountability, anything can be said and that is what hurts. In terms of the profession that we are in, fans want engagement with players and to be able to get to know players, but things like this will drive them further away because how can players be expected to engage when they are getting this abuse. While there’s work being done and it’s getting flagged up, we are nowhere near where we need to be with it.”
What impact has Jason Tindall had this week?
Paul Heckingbottom said “Jason has been good. He was down at the game on Sunday but only came in and met the boys on Tuesday. He’s here until the end of the season. We want his energy, we want his experience. A different voice for the players to go to. That’s important. Some players don’t want to speak to the manager who is picking the team and I understand that. Some players are comfortable doing that, so we need to have those different voices.”
Team news, anyone back?
Paul Heckingbottom said “Didzy has trained today, which is good for us, so we’ll monitor him after training and see how he comes through. That’s a bonus because everyone knows we are light in bodies, especially in certain areas and positions. We would love to have everyone fit and on the training ground and hopefully that won’t be too long.”
What’s the latest with John Egan?
Paul Heckingbottom said “Egan is still rehabbing. He has been out on the grass today and taken his first steps. In the short term he won’t be with us, but we have this game and then an international break and that will be a big two weeks for us to see how far we can get him along and hopefully he progresses.”
Sander Berge has been called up by Norway, does that suggest we can see him soon?
Paul Heckingbottom said “We hope so, yeah. He’s not fit, so it’s going to be a while before he is back playing. He is continuing rehabbing and progressing while he is away from us, he’s not been in the building he’s been rehabbing away and his programme doesn’t change. He’s another one who, the sooner we can get him back the better.”
