Sauzee: We need the
fans to work with us
Positive thinking is the way ahead
for Hibs boss - STUART
CROWTHER
IF
FRANCK SAUZEE FELT THE SLIGHTEST bit
disappointed by the defeat today at Dunfermline, the he certainly showed
no outward sign of it. The new Hibs boss had just 24 hours to work
with his charges before they faced the Pars at a ground where his side had
not won in nearly ten years, a fact that Sauzee was probably not aware of
else he might have thought there was a jinx on his side when Paco Luna was
sent off after less that 30 minutes.
That
appeared to be a harsh decision by referee Douglas McDonald, but by not
means the strangest decision taken by a referee who was devoid of any
Christmas spirit, either that or he had partaken too much of it at his
office festive gathering the previous night. The whistler bungled
his way from one incomprehensible decision to the next, with perhaps the
only saving grace being an equal ineptitude towards both sides and thus
perhaps evening things up. Hibs fans though may not see it that way,
their side having to play with ten men for over an hour - but that perhaps
is why Sauzee was, in spite of this defeat, not so despondent as one might
have expected of a manager who had just taken charge of a side devoid of
the taste of victory since October.
"I
did not see exactly what happened with Paco, but it was the referee's
decision and we have to accept that,"
the Hibs boss told Hibs.net, and clearly ensure that he was not
going to find himself in trouble with the SFA on the first day of his
managerial career, he added:
"The
referee is the boss on the pitch, and sometimes he is wrong and we have to
accept that.
But I'm not telling you if he was wrong this afternoon because I
did not see it! We lost Paco early on though but after that I was
very proud with their reaction.
In the second half we had chances to score, but we lost what was a
good goal for them and it was difficult then for us. I was very
disappointed for the guys.
They played well on Wednesday against Rangers and again today the
teams reaction was fantastic.
I was afraid that perhaps the team spirit was lost but I saw today
that there is still a real spirit in the side.
But we have to work and on Monday I think I will have the sensation
to be a manager and we have a week to work with the boys."
Sauzee - first picture in his new role (sns)
Alex
McLeish made much of the lack of confidence in the Hibs side, and while
Sauzee might have hoped the stirring performance at Ibrox would do much to
dismiss such thoughts from the collective minds of his players, defeats
such as this one, very much against the run of play with a little feeling
perhaps of injustice thrown in, don't much make for increased
confidence. The Hibs boss said: "When
you are not playing with confidence, you are not playing in your mind.
You are afraid to lose the ball, afraid to lose the game and I
don't want my players to think like this, I want to see my players
express themselves.
I saw what I think was a very good performance from my players
today in the second half."
Sauzee will now look to the training ground between now and next Saturday,
when Hibs will face St Johnstone, and attempt to lift his side, indeed to
form the side into his own ideas of what will or will not bring success to
Hibernian.
There
will however be no 'quick fixes', and Sauzee has no intention of looking
into the transfer just yet. He told Hibs.net: "I
am not thinking about players to transfer in or out.
We have very good players here,
I'm not looking for anyone, not even someone to replace myself.
I am disappointed of course for my players today, we were very
strong and I always like to think all the time in a positive way.
The reaction of my players was good and we have now to
work." And that work
ethic is, the Hibs boss believes, not just confined to his playing and
coaching staff, but to the fans themselves. Sauzee is very aware of
the Hibs support and believes they have just as important a role to play
in any future success or failure the club might face, saying: "I
appreciate the attitude of the fans, I need them and my players need them.
My players need the fans to be there backing them all the time, to
be with them.
I am proud to be manager of this club and am looking forward to
working with the players and the fans."
The
first decision Sauzee and his new assistant Donald Park took was to
appoint John O'Neil as club skipper, a role the midfielder clearly
revelled in. This meant a demotion for Mathias Jack, but Sauzee
believed the German took that in his stride, saying: "I
spoke to Mathias yesterday and it was my decision to make John O'Neil
captain, I am the manager now and have to make such decisions.
I think John in not simply a fantastic player but he is a fantastic
man.
I have no doubt about him driving the team on the pitch and off it,
he has the respect of everyone in Scotland, since he came to Hibs he has
been outstanding."
It
was though a disappointing day all round for the 3,000 Hibs fans who
travelled through to Dunfermline, but to their great credit they remained
behind their side until the end, and the while the 'feel good' factor
created by the appointment of Sauzee took a jolt, it is only a temporary
one. One thing the Hibee support will never see again is Sauzee in
action on the park, as the manager confirmed once and for all time when he
said: "I'm very happy in my
new role and will not be playing again, I trust my players to do the job
for me.
We lost today but we will work, I've no doubt about that, and we
will now work again towards the next game and winning that."
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