Stoke City manager Narcis Pelach admitted he “didn’t expect” to find himself in his current position just a few months ago.
Stoke City appointed Spaniard Narcis Pelach last month after unexpectedly parting ways with Steven Schumacher. The 36-year-old has been adjusting to his new role at the Bet365 Stadium, with his team recently securing a 0-0 draw against Swansea City just before the international break.
Reflecting on his journey, Pelach expressed gratitude, stating, “I’m very hungry. It is such a big opportunity for me to represent Stoke City. It is something that I didn’t expect two months ago, so I’m very pleased and very grateful to John Coates and Jon Walters for taking the risk to appoint me. Now it’s time for me to show and win the confidence of everyone. I have to make the players feel that I am the right man for that, and hopefully, with time, we can show it.”
Pelach’s tenure began with a challenging 3-1 loss to Hull City, marking the Tigers’ first win of the season. This was followed by a 2-0 defeat to Middlesbrough, making for a tough start. However, the Potters have shown improvement, notably with a commanding 6-1 victory over Portsmouth and the recent draw against Swansea.
Before joining Stoke, Pelach moved to England in 2020, serving as Carlos Corberan’s assistant at Huddersfield Town for three years, including a brief stint as caretaker manager. He then transitioned to Norwich City, working under David Wagner during a playoff campaign that ended in semi-final defeat against Leeds United. After Wagner’s departure, Pelach chose to accept the opportunity at Stoke City.
Looking ahead, the Potters will return to action on October 19th against Norwich City at home.
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