Shota: ‘The fans give me power, they know where we want to be’
‘MEETING FANS GIVES ME AN AMAZING FEELING’: Shota Arveladze. Picture credit: Hull City
By Simon Bristow
Head coach Shota Arveladze says he gets a “good power” from Hull City fans he meets, knowing he has helped put a smile back on their faces.
The Tigers boss said this is balanced by “criticism” he receives, which he called a “good combination”.
Arveladze also praised City supporters for understanding “how hard it is to reach the dreams we have”.
City have been basking in a wave of optimism since Turkish businessman Acun Ilıcalı took over the club in January, ending the 12-year reign of Assem Allam, whose ownership had left many fans feeling alienated.
One of Ilıcalı’s first acts was to install Arveladze to replace previous manager Grant McCann, and the Georgian has maintained the feel-good factor by beginning the new Championship season in solid style, delivering a 2-1 home win over Bristol City in the season opener, and picking up a point at Preston in a goalless draw on Saturday.
FEEL-GOOD FACTOR: Hull City have been basking in a wave of optimism since Acun Ilıcalı took over. Picture credit: Hull City
That means City head into their first Yorkshire derby of the season unbeaten, a record they are hot favourites to extend when they head to League Two Bradford City on Tuesday night in the First Round of the Carabao Cup.
Speaking at an online press conference today ahead of the trip to West Yorkshire, Arveladze was asked how important it is to be “maintaining that positivity”.
He said: “I meet people on the streets, which is again, like amazing, amazing feeling. I’m still getting a lot of criticism from the Turkish, even Georgian fans. But all the positive comments I feel from the people who come and want to talk about football … gives good power and when you know you’ve done something [that meant] they could smile again.
“This is a great, great kind of combination, when all the Hull supporters understand where we are, where we want [to be], and how hard it is to reach the dreams we have, and being criticised in the right time, I think it’s going to be a very important challenge.
RELAXING: Shota Arveladze has become a popular figure in East Yorkshire since becoming City manager in January
“We all criticise ourselves, first of all, and probably saying sometimes to you guys before every game or after the game, or talking with each other. We’re not blind and we know where we want to go and how hard it is. But the other side is we have so much [of a] clear picture - this is a good combination of two sides, which we need for the whole season, for the next season and year after or whenever this club will reach the dream.”
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The former Rangers striker may be hoping his City forwards have a less eventful evening than he did when playing a cup match against lower league opposition for the Scottish giants.
Arveladze said players always prefer to play games than have a training session, but said: “I had a bad experience. It was an away game. Terrible place. I almost broke my ankle, actually. I scored three goals in that game. The goalie jumped on my ankle and I missed, I think, two months, and I almost got operated [on]. I had to come out after [the] first half in which I already had three goals.”
The Tigers have no new injury worries for the trip to Valley Parade, where travelling fans can expect to see changes to the side that started against Preston. “I’m going to change some but not change too much,” Arveladze said.