Reaction: Ismaël Speaks After QPR Win
Valérien Ismaël addressed the press following Jake Livermore's pair of goals leading the Hornets to a 2-1 victory on the road against QPR.
Read below to find out what the Head Coach had to say about a variety of topics, such as Livermore's objectives and the performance of keeper Ben Hamer.
The team put on an impressive show when playing away. The match was just as we anticipated – a challenging place to earn points. During the first half, we were composed and in charge, but we didn't have many significant opportunities to score. Still, we remained cool and collected.
In the first half of the game, we realized we needed to make some adjustments. Our team was making too many errors, resulting in a loss of possession, and giving our opponents, QPR, the chance to build momentum. Our game plan also involved putting more of our shots on target, which would increase our opportunities to score.
Fortunately, at the start of the second half, Ben [Hamer] made a phenomenal save that prevented our mistake from causing any harm. Other than that, our team performed well. We were able to score a crucial goal and, from that moment on, we knew that our primary objective was to remain composed and steady. This was crucial, especially since we were playing on an away field and knew our opponents would be looking to capitalize on any opportunities they got.
About scoring more goals from longer distances:
The greater number of shots you take towards the goal, the higher the likelihood you have of scoring a point. By doing this, you exert pressure on your opponent to defend themselves from your shots. Additionally, opportunities for a rebound are frequently available, so we're actively collaborating to heighten our players' likelihood of scoring when they're positioned far away from the goal.
We've scored similar goals previously, although we must consistently keep it in our thoughts.
As I previously mentioned, this is our style of playing. During the season, we have successfully scored numerous goals by making use of midfield plays beyond the penalty area.
Even though scoring goals is not part of Jake's job, we are still happy for him because he has an outstanding mindset and is a key member of our team. He serves as a role model for all the younger players on our team.
At the beginning of the season, he faced some challenges. However, he has managed to overcome them and is now performing consistently well. We can clearly see his significance for our team.
Regarding Ben Hamer's performance:
Everyone is now understanding our reason for choosing Ben. We are aware of the valuable skills he adds to our team. With two exceptional keepers, it's always about finding the right balance in selecting the best player for the team. Today's match highlights the reasons why we stand by our decision.
Regarding Rhys Healey's inaugural league start:
In my opinion, he executed his task proficiently. For our ninth player, we have certain guidelines to follow, particularly in terms of collaborating with the team, and he demonstrated competence. This is an aspect we require additional progress in - our ninth player needs to step up.
There are three options available [Healey, Mileta Rajović and Vakoun Bayo], but they are aware of their tasks and duties. Rhys had an exceptional performance in today's game.
