Johannes Hoff Thorup made a playful comment about changing his coaching style to throw off Narcis Pelach, his former colleague, ahead of their upcoming match against Stoke City. Pelach recently left Thorup’s coaching team to join Stoke City, along with goalkeeper coach Paul Clements. The two will now face their old club in the upcoming game.
Thorup downplayed the significance of familiarity between the coaches on both sides, emphasizing that football is mostly about the team’s performance rather than the coaches. He stressed the importance of the team focusing on their own quality and intensity to succeed in the league.
Despite Pelach’s recent departure, Thorup acknowledged the progress the Potters have made under his leadership. He noted improvements in their calmness on the ball, positioning, and building the game from the back during goal kicks. Thorup also mentioned that the international break may have allowed Pelach to integrate more players into the team and make further progress.
While Norwich City has yet to find a replacement for Pelach, Thorup hinted that they are close to finalizing their top choice for the position. The club has narrowed down their search to a two-person shortlist, with a coach from a Premier League club being the preferred candidate. Thorup expressed optimism about the progress in the discussions with the potential candidate and their club, suggesting that an announcement could come by the start of the following week, although it might be too soon for the Stoke City game.
Overall, Thorup’s comments provide insight into the upcoming match against Stoke City, the impact of Pelach’s departure, and the ongoing coach search at Norwich City. Fans can look forward to an exciting game and potential developments in the coaching staff in the near future.