James Collins has explained how adding increased intensity to their play in the final third has been the catalyst for success in India.
Collins’ group of under-19s comfortably reached the final of the Premier League’s Next Generation Cup with victory over Sudeva Delhi on Tuesday evening and will now go on to face Stellenbosch in the final on Friday. The Old Gold won all three of their Group B fixtures, scoring 10 and keeping three clean sheets in the process.
Collins has been pleased with the efforts of his side so far and wants the players to enjoy the next couple of days, before going head-to-head with Stellenbosch for the trophy.
On reaching the final
“I’m pleased. We kept a clean sheet again which was pleasing. I thought we dominated the game from start to finish.
“The most pleasing thing for us has been the boys not taking their foot off the gas. They’ve been really professional for us, so we’ve done well so far and earned the right to play in the final.
“We’ll enjoy the next few days building up to it and then we’ll try and come away with the victory.”
On keeping three clean sheets
“We’ve got quite a few centre backs with us and they’re good centre backs. We put a lot of emphasis on the team, on our out of possession work and from the front – from Nathan Fraser who works really hard at the front and then working back.
“We value the defending and we instil that in the players. You need a bit of luck because teams can get a goal here and there, so it’s not all easy but I felt we’ve defended well.
“What we’ve done this tournament is kept the ball well which allows you to defend less.”
On looking dangerous in front of goal
“We had a bit of a debrief of our season and felt we didn’t get enough intensity in the final third.
“We talked about getting balls into the box, getting crosses in and getting bodies into the box. Because we got success doing that in the first game, I think that gives the boys belief and we’ve kept doing that.
“Goals are scored in the six-yard area and the penalty box, so balls have to go in there. We’ve put a bit of emphasis on that and we’re getting some rewards.”
On facing Stellenbosch in the final
“Before we came I thought they would be strong and when I saw their boys at a couple of the cultural events, they look athletic and physical boys.
“We knew they’d be a strong team in the other group, but we’ll approach it with enjoyment. You come to a tournament to play the day before we leave in a final, so it means the whole trip is worthwhile.
“If you go out the tournament halfway through the trip, the rest of it is a bit of a holiday. We’ve managed to drag that out now and make the whole trip worthwhile and hopefully we’ll end it on a high.”
