Head Coach liked first half - but not the second 45
- Huddersfield Town 1-1 Swansea City
- Reaction from Head Coach Carlos Corberán
- Watch interview below via HTTV
- Head Coach Carlos Corberán speaks after Swansea draw
- Spaniard enjoyed the first half from his side, but not the second
- Corberán explains injuries to Danel Sinani & Levi Colwill
Huddersfield Town Head Coach Carlos Corberán described the 1-1 draw with Swansea City as being ‘two games in one’ after contrasting first and second half performances.
Danel Sinani gave the Terriers a first half lead in a competitive encounter and Town could have had a second, with former Town ‘keeper Ben Hamer making two great saves.
However, the visitors took control in the second half and were well worth the point they took back to South Wales.
“I think we couldn’t keep playing in the second half like we did in the first,” Carlos explained post-match.
“I liked the team a lot in the first half, especially in the first few minutes, as we knew when to be aggressive, when to play from the back, when to press them and when to use the spaces in behind. We had some good opportunities in the first half, especially through Koroma, as he had a lot of space when their wing back pressed Harry Toffolo. We used that sometimes, but perhaps not enough. The feeling the team gave me in the first half was good.
“In the second half we tried to be more aggressive, but it is true that after the substation of Sinani through injury, we didn’t find the same solutions as in the first half. The game changed. It is difficult to press them as they have many players close to the ball and in many moments, they broke our press.”
Having notched his fourth goal in Town colours, Norwich loanee Sinani couldn’t continue after the interval, as Carlos explained:
“Sinani felt his muscle in the high part of the hamstring, so we need to make the scan.”
Swansea dominated the ball in the second 45 and although he expected the visitors to have a lot of the ball – they lead the Championship in terms of average possession – Corberán knows his side had to use possession more effectively when they did win it back.
He continued: “When we had opportunities to attack, we didn’t use the ball well. After they scored and we played with two strikers, it allowed us to feel a bit more competitive in the last third of the pitch and we created chances. Other than that, they dominated the second half.”
Town had a late renaissance after the Swansea equaliser when Jordan Rhodes entered the fray, with the allied change in shape leading to late chances for O’Brien and Ward, and Carlos lamented the fact he didn’t make that switch earlier, with hindsight.
“Looking at it after we introduced Rhodes and went 5-3-2, maybe I could have introduced him earlier and the team could have had a better reaction.
“I understand why people feel disappointed after the game, because it is true that we didn’t have enough attacks in the second half to excite everyone. Every opponent is different, and with some it’s easier to have the ball than others. As the minutes passed, we didn’t find the energy to press them well enough and I didn’t find a way to help the team until the last minutes when we played with two strikers.”
Levi Colwill was absent for a second straight game with a knee problem, and the Head Coach explained that the Chelsea loanee’s recovery is taking longer than initially expected.
“We don’t know exactly yet (when Colwill will return). He has a pain in the knee. We rested him for Burnley to make him ready for today, but he couldn’t complete training on Wednesday. We wanted him to try again on Friday, but in the end, it was impossible for him. We now hope for a good recovery, but I cannot tell you an exact time.”
Watch the full interview below via HTTV!
