Cocu expects tricky start
Phillip Cocu is keen to see how his Derby County players cope with the threat of a team that were in the Premier League last season - Huddersfield Town.
The Rams visit Town, who only picked up 16 points in the top-flight last term, on Monday.
Derby have enjoyed an excellent pre-season after reaching the Championship play-off final last term, but doubts persist as to how they will do in the 2019/20 campaign following Frank Lampard's departure for Chelsea.
Derby are 14/5 to beat the Terriers and 11/2 to be promoted this season while Huddersfield are 11/2 to go up.
"It's a difficult start, of course," said Cocu. "They were relegated last season but there is potential in the team and they have really good players.
"They manage the ball very well but it will be good to see how we do against Huddersfield. They are a quality team and they are the favourites for promotion.
"To play an away game, we can see how the team is doing in these circumstances. How we can manage the ball, how we can still play our own game and it's something we look forward to.
"Every manager has his own philosophy and will adjust a little but in general it's not too different so hopefully we can make a good start.
"I have an idea of how we are going to play. It's not 100 per cent but I would say 95 per cent sure."
Cocu starred for PSV Eindhoven and Barcelona during his 20-year playing career before going on to manage PSV and Fenerbahce.
In his playing days Cocu won four Eredivisie titles with the Dutch side as well as the 1998/99 La Liga title with Barca before managing PSV to three league successes - in 2014/15, 2015/16 and 2017/18.
View all Soccer betting
Phillip Cocu is keen to see how his Derby County players cope with the threat of a team that were in the Premier League last season - Huddersfield Town.
The Rams visit Town, who only picked up 16 points in the top-flight last term, on Monday.
Derby have enjoyed an excellent pre-season after reaching the Championship play-off final last term, but doubts persist as to how they will do in the 2019/20 campaign following Frank Lampard's departure for Chelsea.
Derby are 14/5 to beat the Terriers and 11/2 to be promoted this season while Huddersfield are 11/2 to go up.
"It's a difficult start, of course," said Cocu. "They were relegated last season but there is potential in the team and they have really good players.
"They manage the ball very well but it will be good to see how we do against Huddersfield. They are a quality team and they are the favourites for promotion.
"To play an away game, we can see how the team is doing in these circumstances. How we can manage the ball, how we can still play our own game and it's something we look forward to.
"Every manager has his own philosophy and will adjust a little but in general it's not too different so hopefully we can make a good start.
"I have an idea of how we are going to play. It's not 100 per cent but I would say 95 per cent sure."
Cocu starred for PSV Eindhoven and Barcelona during his 20-year playing career before going on to manage PSV and Fenerbahce.
In his playing days Cocu won four Eredivisie titles with the Dutch side as well as the 1998/99 La Liga title with Barca before managing PSV to three league successes - in 2014/15, 2015/16 and 2017/18.
Source: bet365.com
Comments
This article has 0 comment(s) , give your comment