Milanic sees improvement - coach reflects on draw with Wednesday
leedsunited.com 4/10/14
United head coach Darko Milanič says he saw further improvements from his side after Giuseppe Bellusci’s strike secured a 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday at Elland Road.
After a goalless first half which saw chances for both sides, it was the visitors who took the lead on 52 minutes as Chris Maguire fired into the bottom corner.
Wednesday goalkeeper Keiren Westwood was in inspired form to twice deny Mirco Antenucci an equaliser, but Bellusci grabbed the point with 11 minutes remaining on the clock after Alex Mowatt’s free-kick fell into his path.
"We had enough opportunities to go into the lead. After they made one goal, it was very difficult," said Milanič.
"If you see all of the game , we did a lot of things very good. We had plenty of chances but the Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper was extremely good."
Milanič collected his first point since taking charge in the 0-0 draw with Reading three days earlier and says he was much happier with the Yorkshire derby display.
"I think that we have a good team. We had an energy in the game, we had some very good action," he said.
"In the second half we had some great chances to score and I think that although the result is not good, altogether it was better.
"It was extremely quick and the opponents were not really dangerous."
It was Bellusci’s second strike for the club since arriving from Catania this summer and Milanič was full of praise for the Italian defender, who is not afraid to venture forward.
"He takes a lot of risks but he is very calm. He is playing very well, he is an excellent player," said Milanič.
Milanic also explained the thinking behind his team selection as Gaetano Berardi and Rodolph Austin came into the side in place of Liam Cooper and Lewis Cook, while Adryan was an unused substitute.
"I want us to be more compact with Berardi. I know that the opponents were very quick there. If we gave them space, it would be very difficult," he said.
"With Austin, I wanted energy. He had energy, power and speed.
"Adryan was here with the team, he’s part of the team and there are enough games."
United now have a two-week break before the trip to Rotherham and Milanič says he has already identified what he will be looking to work on at Thorp Arch.
"I want to remain so compact and solid," said the United head coach . "We played quicker in the last third today but we also have to do it from defence."
United head coach Darko Milanič says he saw further improvements from his side after Giuseppe Bellusci’s strike secured a 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday at Elland Road.
After a goalless first half which saw chances for both sides, it was the visitors who took the lead on 52 minutes as Chris Maguire fired into the bottom corner.
Wednesday goalkeeper Keiren Westwood was in inspired form to twice deny Mirco Antenucci an equaliser, but Bellusci grabbed the point with 11 minutes remaining on the clock after Alex Mowatt’s free-kick fell into his path.
"We had enough opportunities to go into the lead. After they made one goal, it was very difficult," said Milanič.
"If you see all of the game , we did a lot of things very good. We had plenty of chances but the Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper was extremely good."
Milanič collected his first point since taking charge in the 0-0 draw with Reading three days earlier and says he was much happier with the Yorkshire derby display.
"I think that we have a good team. We had an energy in the game, we had some very good action," he said.
"In the second half we had some great chances to score and I think that although the result is not good, altogether it was better.
"It was extremely quick and the opponents were not really dangerous."
It was Bellusci’s second strike for the club since arriving from Catania this summer and Milanič was full of praise for the Italian defender, who is not afraid to venture forward.
"He takes a lot of risks but he is very calm. He is playing very well, he is an excellent player," said Milanič.
Milanic also explained the thinking behind his team selection as Gaetano Berardi and Rodolph Austin came into the side in place of Liam Cooper and Lewis Cook, while Adryan was an unused substitute.
"I want us to be more compact with Berardi. I know that the opponents were very quick there. If we gave them space, it would be very difficult," he said.
"With Austin, I wanted energy. He had energy, power and speed.
"Adryan was here with the team, he’s part of the team and there are enough games."
United now have a two-week break before the trip to Rotherham and Milanič says he has already identified what he will be looking to work on at Thorp Arch.
"I want to remain so compact and solid," said the United head coach . "We played quicker in the last third today but we also have to do it from defence."