CNN Indonesia
Sunday, 23 Jul 2023 20:20 WIB
Elkan Baggott underwent pre-season matches with Ipswich Town. (AP/Rui Vieira)
Jakarta, CNNIndonesia —
Coach Kieran McKenna defended young players Ipswich Townincluding Elkan Baggottafter losing twice in two consecutive test matches.
First, Ipswich Town lost 1-2 to Stevenage and lost 1-2 to Cambridge United with an identical score. In these two matches Baggott and other young Ipswich players appeared as starters.
McKenna said the pre-season friendly matches were the perfect way to test the team’s strength. Defeat, said McKenna, is not a reflection of performance in competition.
“And another positive thing is giving young players another chance, whether it’s 10 minutes, 20 minutes or 30 minutes,” McKenna said. TWTD on Saturday (22/7).
“I’ve been in that position [pemain muda]. It was important for them, even for the players to play today at the end of today’s game in Cambridge,” he said.
In his view, young players must fight as hard as possible when given the opportunity to play. Every opportunity that the team has must be maximized as hard as possible so that it becomes a goal.
McKenna did not deny that he was disappointed with the team’s performance. One of them was the dead ball situation in the final minutes of the match which could not be anticipated. This will be used as evaluation material.
“A bad set-piece conceded at the end, where we gave a bad free-kick and didn’t defend it well, they will learn from that,” said McKenna.
“It’s all part of giving their opportunity to the senior team environment. Pre-season is the perfect time to do that and it’s positive,” he defended.
(abs/nva)
