INTERVIEW: Joel Latibeaudiere on wearing captain's armband and Sheffield Wednesday win
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Joel Latibeaudiere expressed his feeling of privilege upon learning that he would be the captain of the Sky Blues in their game against Sheffield Wednesday.
Latibeaudiere led City to a 4-1 triumph over the Owls, with Callum O'Hare, Kasey Palmer, and Haji Wright scoring goals to allow City to advance to the next stage.
After the game ended, the defender reflected on what happened and also thought about the upcoming match against Maidstone United.
Reflecting on the match...
We had a fantastic beginning when Kasey Palmer scored, but unfortunately, we made a mistake and allowed the other team to score from a set piece which we didn't clear properly. However, we came out in the second half with a fierce and determined attitude.
We assigned our best players to take control of the game. They successfully maneuvered and advanced towards the opposing team's defense. Their performance resulted in an impressive four goals.
During the break, Adi expressed his opinion on the number of opportunities the opposing team had. We all concurred with him, prompting us to fortify our defense and assign a midfielder to act as a pivot player.
We made many mistakes due to the changes, resulting in some excellent goals being scored against us.
During the brief moment of scoring in the second period...
This was exactly what we required, particularly during these cup matches where unforeseeable situations can arise. It's particularly challenging to face a team for the fourth time, however, I believe the team was outstanding tonight.
"We executed our plan and achieved victory. Next up, we have Maidstone and are excited for the opportunity to play them."
Callum O'Hare and Kasey Palmer...
It's quite evident that we felt the absence of Callum in the beginning of the season. The enthusiasm he brings and his outstanding skills with the ball cannot be overlooked. Apart from that, his dynamic movement and ability to create space for other players adds a lot of value to the team.
It's awesome to have Kasey back on the team! He's super tough and he's starting to feel more confident out on the field. It's really amazing to see both him and the other player out there playing together.
Before, I was really impressed by Jay Dasilva's performance today. It's tough not being part of the team, but he has been putting in a lot of effort during training. I really admire him because he has handled the situation like a true professional.
It's impressive to witness how he was able to deliver such a remarkable performance despite not receiving adequate gametime recently.
Haji requires that goal to regain his self-assurance. It seemed like he was finding his footing, but unfortunately, he sustained a minor injury during the match against Middlesbrough.
"We were determined to secure him a goal, and he totally delivered with a powerful header. It was a fantastic evening for him."
Debuting as the captain of the Sky-Blue team for the first time...
Yesterday, the boss informed me that I had been conferred with a great honor. I was overjoyed to hear him express confidence in me, allowing me to lead the team in a crucial cup match.
This is the maiden instance of me serving as the skipper in a cup match, so I was immensely content about it.
"I believe I fulfilled my role admirably, as I was able to motivate the team to perform at their best. I was highly energetic and vocal while out on the field, doing everything within my abilities to make a positive impact. A heartfelt appreciation goes out to my teammates for their dedication and perseverance in overcoming the challenges we faced."
The connection he has with Mark Robins...
The only thing I desire from a manager is straightforwardness, and the boss delivers that consistently. He informs me of the rationale behind his decisions.
Honestly, our team has amazing depth now. We have around 18 or 19 players who could easily start, which puts the coach in a difficult position.
Additionally, it's desirable to have a squad of 18 individuals. The intensity of training is exceptionally high and there is a great deal of competitiveness amongst the team.
The boss and I have an excellent connection. We communicate frequently, and he has faith in my abilities. I am versatile, and he was thrilled to assign me to the centre back position.
As we move forward into the upcoming month...
In February, things get hectic, but during the holiday season and the following month where we had numerous games one after the other, we performed exceptionally well.
I believe that we have a chance to gain more points in the upcoming match. Although we lost some points during the game against Norwich, we managed to recover and perform well today. I hope that in our next game against Millwall on Sunday, we can maintain this positive momentum.
The Monday to Friday timetable, the televised matches on Sky and CBS are enjoyable. I am excited to resume playing in the league games very soon.