Ahead of the Dorset Senior Cup Final this evening, we sat down with Warren Feeney, who laid out our realistic plans going forward, the right “mentality” we need for tonight’s game, and more…
On Saturday’s loss:
It was frustrating, but, at the end of the day, that’s football. If you don’t put the ball in the net or defend you leave yourself at risk, and that’s what happened with us. We are where we are for a reason; very few teams have outplayed us in the games we’ve played but we’ve not been ruthless enough, to tell the truth.
On the importance of being “ruthless:”
Ruthless teams don’t just dominate games, they dominate leagues. They stay patient and fully-concentrated during games. Not getting anxious with yourself is important, which we’ve maybe lacked. When we go a goal down, we need to pick ourselves up and believe we can get back in the game. We lost concentration with one long-ball and it cost us the game. Without sounding like a broken record, it’s something we need to nullify ahead of next season.
On realistic plans:
We at the club knew when I came in that keeping us up would be a big ask and, although it’s not been enough, there have been some improvements – we’re scoring more goals and playing better in matches. Perhaps a big reset before we go again is needed; you can’t run before you walk.
On the harsh realities of football:
Football is a great game, but it can come back to bite you. We may have dominated last weekend, but we didn’t put the ball in the net and we conceded a penalty from a long-ball. That’s the hard part. I’ve played for teams that have been on a similar receiving end, and it’s not nice, but the players have just got to live with it and move on.
On tonight’s game:
It’s a cup final which we want to win. At the end of the day, cups are there to be one. We may be seen as favourites, but anyone can win in these types of games and we need to make sure we play with the right mentality. Importantly, we need to give the fans something they can still cheer about.
On the importance of winning trophies:
A cup is a cup, and a player should want medals. That’s how I’ve felt throughout my career. Tonight is a good chance for the players to get one. It also gives us a chance to get Saturday’s loss out of our system, but we know this game won’t be easy.
