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On the Rutter and Piroe debate
I get the feeling we are discussing this topic in every press conference. We always speak about Rutter and Piroe and I understand, everyone has opinions. Let's make a deal, I give you my lenghty thoughts and then don't ask me again. It lasts a while.
Firstly I want to play players always in their best position but this means also when you talk about Rutter, Bamford, Piroe, just one of them can be on the pitch, they all want to play striker. I also like to have two or three of them on the pitch. We were lacking goals from deeper positions and you can't rely on goals from the striker.
Secondly, your best position always differs between clubs. It's different to score 20 goals for a club who is fighting relegation or fighting for the top positions. It's a different ask. With all respect, i think it's different if you have to score 20 goals for Swansea than Leeds United. At Swansea he was the main man, here he has other players. It'sa different role. This is something we must not forget. I rate Swansea but at times they were sitting deeper and were reluctant. Joel, there are always different qualities and some of his tempt me to play him in the striker position, his finishing of course. I struggle to find players in the whole country with his finishing. But for us, we want the ball at each and every moment. We want a player to lead the line with intelligence. We need a striker who stretches it with running behind and smart movement. but, with all respect to Joel he's not the lightning quick player who stretches the line so he arrives late with instrictive finish. If our striker has to fulfil other tasks then he's perhaps not always the perfect option up front.
After Millwall, Ipswich, Watford, we are singing the song of Piroe, but when he doesnt score it's because he's in the wrong position, it's not healthy.
The second to last one, I'm just thinking about the team. I'm not here to win the golden boot. I'm thinking about the team being successful. It's important that our strikers in total are there. In respect to Swansea, they played him up front, but they didn't win the title. We need players all other the pitch that score.
Also. Piroe has scored four in seven and if we continues on that average we are happy. We need also the goals of Bamford, Rutter.
Really my last point. I stay humble and I don't overrate my position. I want to support my players and help them but I have won the league twice and I know what is necessary. You need goals from everywhere.
Really my last point now. I was a striker, I started my career at a small club and the striker won the golden boot and we had to sell him. Two more times. I went to Dortmund, I had a striker, he won the golden boot. FIve seasons in a row my strikers won the golden boot. Then I went to England to join Norwich, we signed Pukki and he won the golden boot twice. I went to Gladbach, signed Thuram, he scored double figures and he played in a World Cup final. When it comes to strikers I know my business and when it comes down to winning this league, I know my business.
Let's not talk about this again. Keep going and speculating, that's OK, but let's not talk about it in a press conference.
Sorry for my answer I'm already in game mode.
