ROBERTS RELISHING RELENTLESSNESS OF CHAMPIONSHIP

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Right-back excited to return to Turf Moor

2024-10-25T11:30:00.000Z

ROBERTS RELISHING RELENTLESSNESS OF CHAMPIONSHIP

Right-back excited to return to Turf Moor

2024-10-25T11:30:00.000Z

Right-back excited to return to Turf Moor

Ahead of Saturday's game against QPR at Turf Moor Connor Roberts has been reflecting on the lessons learnt from Wednesday's draw at Hull City, his passion for the relentlessness of the Championship and working under Scott Parker.

“There are lessons to be learnt from the Hull game, our performance was decent in the second half, we controlled large parts of the game, created a couple of chances towards the end and were unlucky not to snatch it.

"I think we all know as players, as professionals, that we weren’t really quite at it in the first half, we struggled in areas that maybe we excelled in at Sheffield Wednesday. When we got into the final third, we didn’t control it enough and work our way in, we tried to bash the door down as soon as we got there. But we need to learn from that, and I hope we will do that moving forward starting on Saturday at Turf Moor.”

Xavier Simons gave the hosts the lead on the stroke of half-time at the MKM Stadium and it had been quite some time since Burnley had gone behind in a game so far this campaign. Did that pose a different challenge at the break?

“I think you always wonder how the team are going to react when, I think it was four clean sheets in a row, we had not conceded a goal, so you do wonder. Going in at half-time we were disappointed in the way we were playing, however we knew that we were getting the ball in and around their box, we had a couple of half chances, a couple of sniffs towards their goal and I think we took a bit of encouragement from that. We knew that if we upped our game and controlled it a little bit better and weren’t as sloppy in possession then when we got near their box, we could create better, clear-cut chances. And we did that with a well taken goal by Zian.”

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What was the reaction from the group in the team talk at the break?

“There are different ways that different players, the manager, and staff react. Some people may be calm, collected, say keep doing what we’re doing, persevere, and others will be asking for more energy, more runs. It was a bit of a mix of everything but it kind of worked. In the second half we were just like go out there, when we get to the good areas, we need to be clever, not as sloppy in possession, take care a bit more and I think we showed that in the second half. We got a goal from it, and we were very unlucky not to nick it right at the end.”

Having signed for Burnley on deadline day in August 2021, Roberts has had three managers in his time at the Club and the Welshman is thriving off working under Scott Parker.

“My role hasn't changed massively under him to be honest. I think with the manager now he wants to change it up a little bit more, maybe go direct every now and again. But it’s very, very similar to previous managers. One thing I will say is the manager has a way he wants us to play, and he tells us day in day out, all the boys know and if it doesn’t come together on a matchday then its down to us not him really. He’s a fantastic person and a fantastic manager. I’ve worked with a lot of managers and he’s brilliant.

“Hopefully, we can learn from each game week and get better and better like we did the last time we were in the Championship; I think people forget we didn’t start well then and eventually we were a force to be reckoned with. Hopefully, it goes along those lines somehow again.”

What sorts of traits and characteristics that Parker displays does Roberts particularly appreciate?

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“A lot of people say it but it’s the mentality, it’s the hard work. As he showed when he was a player, he’s obviously still like that as a manager, as a person. It’s the fundamentals of a human being and what they are, and I think all the boys who knew Scott Parker as a player, knew what he was going to be like when he came in.

“All the boys really like him; we all want to do well for him. Away from being a really good coach and trying to get a way of playing and get us messages on the pitch on how to play, he’s a fantastic human being and all the boys want to do well for him.”

Finally, whilst many people talk about the relentless, hectic nature of the Championship and how challenging it can be, it's an aspect of the league that 29-year-old Roberts thrives on.

“For me personally I’ve always said I love the Championship, I love playing games. It’s brilliant, I can’t speak for other players they might not like it, but as a footballer you just want to play games, so I assume most footballers enjoy all the games. I think weeks between games are too long, I don’t like it, so I really enjoy the Championship.

“If you can get the momentum going with you as a team then we can tick one game off, move onto the next one, tick another game off, then hopefully we can find ourselves in a good position come the end of the season.”