Swansea City head coach Vitor Matos discussed Kim Hellberg’s Middlesbrough after the 2-2 draw
Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg shows a look of frustration(Image: Will Cooper/Shutterstock)
Swansea City boss Vitor Matos had words of encouragement for his frustrated opposite number, as he told Middlesbrough fans to focus on the process as much as results.
Matos watched on as his side earned a 2-2 draw against Hellberg’s Boro in a dramatic game that was ultimately decided by three penalty kicks. It stretched Boro’s winless run to five at such a critical point of the campaign.
It’s understandably a source of frustration for supporters and Hellberg alike, as Boro have lost the grip they had on automatic promotion and no longer have their fate in their own hands.
But having himself arrived at Swansea in the middle of a season, and knowing exactly what it’s like to try and transform a side in the manner that Hellberg has at Boro, the Portuguese boss was clear in his praise and encouragement of Boro’s boss.
Matos said: “I think it’s clear he’s implemented a style. It’s a tough league and the momentum defines a lot. How can you build from that? I think at the moment you can see the squad has suffered injuries and that’s hard to cope with, especially at this stage of the season.
“If I can say anything, it’s very clear how he wants to play. He implemented that and don’t judge him just on results, judge him on what he’s trying to do, I think that’s the most important thing.”
Momentum defining a lot very much feels relevant to Boro right now. Since Hellberg arrived their momentum has swung dramatically, with four consecutive wins, four without a win, six consecutive wins and now this winless run of five.
Throughout that time, however, even in the winless runs, Boro have played well and dominated almost every match they’ve played in. Their deficiencies at the top end of the pitch have ultimately been costly.
But through the winning runs they’ve proven that there are goals in the team. Since Hellberg’s arrival they’ve scored three or more goals in seven matches. It’s why, for Matos, momentum is key.
Asked how you can possibly turn that in your favour, he said: “Confidence is a really funny attribute. Sometimes it’s something that is growing then someone stands on it and you need to make it grow again.
“Every squad and player is different. It’s more about how you find a way to give that to your players. There’s not a recipe. If there was, we’d all use it!
“It’s something that is real. Sometimes you don’t know. Momentum can grow from a shot or a corner and the team builds on that.
“Speaking about ourselves, when you don’t have that, you need to still be aggressive and compete and survive. Then start celebrating the small little things. And you can create something from that.”
Speaking on the game in general, which after a really positive Boro start became quite a scrappy affair with little rhythm or flow thanks to stoppages, Matos noted how his side set up knowing Boro would want possession.
He said:” We needed to control the game without the ball, getting contact and being organised. We knew Middlesbrough were really good with the ball, they have a lot of individual technique that can hurt you.
“You need to be first organised and compact then you can put pressure and be effective. We tried to use our moments to create some good chances, not clear ones but good chances. We needed to use counter attacks and for that some players were really important. But it was a good game.”
Having pushed in the second half, Boro ended up finding their equaliser from the penalty spot when Callum Brittain wriggled past two defenders into the penalty area before drawing a foul.
While Hellberg could have little complaints about the two first-half spot-kicks his side conceded, there was more question marks over Boro’s.
Matos said: “I still haven’t seen it properly. From where I’m standing it seems there’s not really a contact but I still didn’t see it properly.”
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