Coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle has lamented the fact that the defence of the team concedes too much goals as seen at the recently concluded Unity Cup tournament in England, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Chelle saw Nigeria threw away a two goal lead to draw 2-2 against Jamaica, before winning the game 5-4 on penalties. He was also not happy that they conceded a goal in the 2-1 win over Ghana in their first game of the tournament.
Speaking to London based Nigerian journalist Austine Okon Akpan, Chelle said the defence is a concern for him as he tries to instill a model and identity of play for the team.
“We took so many goals during this Unity games. Especially when we lose the ball and we can’t when win it back and after a cross. We need to to work about that, but the reality is I think we create something new about the game project about the about identity of the team”, he told Austin after the game against Jamaica at the Unity Cup.
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“So the identity of the of the team, you know, we made lot of high pressure on the ball and I think it’s great, we are doing that . We have some quality, but we are some weaknesses, so we need to continue and work again, work again and focus about our identity, our working project”.
When pressed to speak about the game project he has always talked about, the Mailian went ahead to explain the idea, philosophy, character, style and way he wants the team to be seen during games.
“This is why every time I talk about that. I want to to talk about the game project because the game project is what are we doing when we don’t have the ball? What are we doing when you have the ball.
“I want that that someone look a game. Watch a game about the Nigerian team and say a Nigeria team when they don’t have the ball. They make a high pressure and when they have the ball, they try to go to to make some fast attack, or if it’s not possible, they try to keep to keep the ball.
“And if you if you watch our four games, our last four games you can see that. So, this is why I’m happy about that, but the reality we need to work because we have some weaknesses. Like in defense. And we need to to improve. And and work physically. To do some high pressure during 60 or 70 minutes”, he concluded.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
