‘We’re better, fitter, and ready to go’: Rosenior

‘FEELS LIKE A NEW SEASON’: Liam Rosenior

By Simon Bristow

Hull City manager Liam Rosenior says he has got his players “better and fitter” during their enforced winter break as they prepare to face Championship high-flyers Watford on Sunday, a fixture he says feels like the start of a “brand new season”.

The Tigers, who are 20th in the table, face what looks a daunting trip to Vicarage Lane to face fourth-placed Watford, having had a winter break in Turkey during the season’s pause to accommodate the Qatar World Cup.

The break included two friendlies against top-flight Turkish opposition in reigning Süper Lig champions Trabzonspor, and İstanbul Başakşehir FK, and Rosenior, who became head coach on November 3, said he has also been working on improving the squad’s organisation as well as their fitness.

Speaking at a press conference at the club’s Cottingham training ground today, Rosenior said of the break, which began after the 2-1 home loss to Reading on November 12: “I’m enjoying it. I’ve got to know the players really, really well and I do think there have been some really bright signs of the players learning what I want.

“You can make the break whatever you want it to be. I’ve been able to do some really difficult fitness work and improve those levels of intensity. You’ve got to be careful because you don’t want the players breaking down.

“The players are hitting those targets we are setting them and they are getting better and fitter and more robust for this league than what we expected [at this time] so I couldn’t be happier.”

He added: “There is a level of organisation and fitness and understanding of the Championship that you need to be successful, and the players have taken on my message and Daws’s [interim head coach Andy Dawson] message.”

‘WE CAN HUNT DOWN PLAY-OFF PLACE’: Cyrus Christie

Seeing the Watford game as a chance for a fresh start, Rosenior said: “You can reset. It does feel like a brand new season again. If you are constantly looking backwards you are not focused on the future.”

City have no new injury worries and goalkeeper Nathan Baxter is “back and ready to go”, Rosenior said, giving him one of a number of selection headaches.

He said Watford have “top players” and a “top manager [Slaven Bilic] who’s been successful in this league”, adding: “We know it’s going to be difficult but I’ve said to the players enjoy these challenges. I believe we can get three points but we need to be consistent throughout the season.”

Rosenior, a hugely successful Tiger in his playing career, also revealed a little more about his style of management.

He said: “I’m open and I’m confident in the way I work. I want to create togetherness and the way you create that is to be open and sometimes vulnerable. I don’t need to scream and shout at the players to get their respect, I don’t need to be 65 years old. I think the players believe in me.

“The way I will treat the players is to be honest and treat them with respect.”

Defender Cyrus Christie was also positive, saying the Tigers were looking up the table, not down, after it was mentioned they are only seven points off a play-off place, despite their lowly position in the table.

He said: “Seven points outside the play-offs - that’s reachable in my eyes. You pick up three wins and all of a sudden it looks a lot different.”