Narcis Pelach is deeply appreciative of the support and energy coming from his Stoke City squad, sensing the beginning of a promising journey together. Since taking over as head coach in September, Pelach has noticed key qualities emerging in the team and is grateful to the players for embracing his vision and strategy. After a stretch that saw the team secure three wins and four draws in their last eight league matches, Stoke City now finds itself mid-table in the Championship. However, there is a building sense of confidence that this team can only improve as the season progresses. For Pelach, the priority is to secure wins in the present to build a foundation of belief within the club, though it’s the players’ dedication and attitudes that he values above all else.
Reflecting on the connection he shares with his players, Pelach emphasized, “The most important thing for me is the belief and love of the players because they are the ones you send out on the pitch. If you’ve got that, then I think other things will come.” He has a vision of Stoke as a unified, resilient team—one that isn’t necessarily exceptional in any single phase but is strong, versatile, and able to manage each part of the game. His aim is to foster a cohesive squad with energy, commitment, and a strong emotional connection to their goals. Pelach wants Stoke to be a challenging opponent, a team that’s difficult to beat. With only one loss in their last eight games, he believes they’re making strides towards that goal.
Stoke’s recent success from set plays has been instrumental, with pivotal goals scored from corner routines in the last two home games. Bae Junho’s well-placed corners have been met by Ben Gibson’s headers, resulting in decisive points. Pelach has personally taken on responsibility for designing these routines, opting for simplicity and a direct approach to encourage confidence in the players’ execution. He remarked, “We go to the ball believing that we can score. My
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