Stoke City's South Korean midfielder #22 Bae Jun-ho reacts to their defeat after the English FA Cup third round football match between Stoke City and Brighton and Hove Albion at the bet365 Stadium, in Stoke on Trent, central England, on January 6, 2024. Brighton won the game 4-2. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images)
Stoke City boss makes aggression admission after Middlesbrough defeat
Post-match reaction from Narcis Pelach as Stoke City lost to Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium
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Narcis Pelach is tasking himself with urgently adding aggression to Stoke City both defensively and in attack.
Pelach saw Stoke lose 2-0 to Middlesbrough in his first away match as head coach and, amid frustration from travelling supporters, admitted he was looking for more ruthlessness in key moments and in key areas.
“I’m disappointed with the result and disappointed as well with the performance,” he said.
“I think we have to be much more aggressive defensively and offensively. I can see the team was organised in one phase or the other but it’s about doing more runs in behind, getting more crosses, getting more shots off. I think we had a step in the right direction in terms of ball possession. I could see in the first part of the game, the team wanted to have the ball. I think the battle for possession was more or less the same, 50-50, and we know that Middlesbrough is a great side on that. We’re building towards the new style but we have to turn it into chances. That’s why I’m disappointed.
