Norwich City head coach Philippe Clement insists his side will collect many points this season despite a 1-0 defeat at Stoke City. The Belgian manager expressed frustration after a dominant performance failed to yield a result.
Clement's side currently sit 16th in the Championship table with three points from their opening three matches, a record of one win and two losses. They have scored five goals but conceded six, leaving them with a negative goal difference. The Canaries are six points behind early leaders Charlton Athletic.
Philippe Clement was clear about his feelings after the final whistle. "It's a crazy game to lose the three points," he told reporters. He pointed to his team's overwhelming control of the match as the source of both his pride and his disappointment. Norwich had by far the most possession and created the majority of the chances at the bet365 Stadium.
The head coach said he could not ask for more for his players' mentality and their will to win. He noted the team fought to win the game fully until the last seconds. Clement credited the Stoke goalkeeper for having an amazing day and acknowledged several important blocks by the opposition's defense.
The manager identified one clear area for development. He stated the squad needs to work more on ruthlessness in front of goal. Converting their dominance into goals is the next step. However, Clement viewed playing an away game so dominantly as a really good step forward for his team.
He believes the underlying performance promises better days ahead for Norwich City. The team's current injury situation, which includes players like L. Gibbs, J. Makama, A. Ahmed, A. Crnac, and L. Mahovo, makes this display even more encouraging.
Clement's confidence in his squad's approach is unwavering. He made a bold prediction about the campaign's trajectory. "If my team keeps on playing like this, we will take a lot of points this season," Clement said. This belief is rooted in the control and chance creation shown at Stoke, elements he sees as repeatable.
The immediate focus shifts to the next Championship fixture. Norwich travel to face Sheffield United, who are 14th in the table, on Saturday, September 5th. Fans can follow the build-up to that match on our fixtures page. The team's current league position and recent form of win-loss-loss is detailed on our standings section.
Despite the defeat, Clement's assessment suggests a foundation is being built. The performance contained many positive aspects, from mentality to tactical control. The challenge is to maintain those standards while adding the finishing touch. The manager's public backing is designed to reinforce the process to his players after a harsh result.
Norwich City's next opportunity to turn performance into points comes at Bramall Lane in three days' time.
