After City U23’s win over Wigan Athletic yesterday, Marco Rus reflected on the result and spoke about his side’s start to the season.
The 18-year-old midfielder, who joined the Sky Blues from Southampton in the summer, was pleased by how the team reacted from going behind twice in the match to running out 5-3 winners against the in form Latics.
“I thought it was a great second half performance but first half we weren’t really good enough either on or off the ball unfortunately, they were the better team first half but that’s because we let them be.” Rus said.
“We just weren’t ruthless with our chances and with our running but second half we came straight out at them, and we knew if we got the second goal, which we did, we would run all over them and we did that today.
“It was a great win in the end, great characters all over the pitch with Jodi and Godden gave everything for us today and helped us massively and credit to all the lads as it wasn’t the best conditions, but we worked our socks off today.”
Rus spoke of his own performance, and after finding it difficult to get into the game first half, an inspiring second half display from the youngster helped turned the game in City’s favour, with Rus pleased to see his hard work done on the training ground bearing fruit.
“It was just trying to get into the game and as soon as I did that I just knew I could impact the game massively and it’s really good for me to be involved in three of the five goals, as it’s most of the goals I am involved in, and I just want to keep that going and keep the involvement the goals, the assists and the performances coming.
“When it opens up and I’m in the opposition half I know I have the license to go and do that. When it’s me and Jonny or whoever is playing in midfield, I know we cover each other well so when one has gone on we’ve got cover behind the pitch so I can go and run and it’s what I like to do, to take people on and get into the box and create something and today it was a penalty.
“I do it in training, if it opens up I’ll try and run through and either slip people through or get a goal myself but they know that and the lads let me do that and they know if I lose it I will work hard to win the ball back or get back in shape.”
The win put City back to winning ways and kept Luke Tisdale’s side top of the Professional Development League Northern Section and Rus went on to say how much he was enjoying the start to the season and what he hopes to achieve this season.
“It’s been great, honestly I don’t think I’ve ever had such a great start in any season at any club, we are still top of the league, we’ve only lost one league game and one that was unfortunate to lose, we shouldn’t have lost that game but it’s just been a good start for myself as well and I’m really happy that I just keep putting in performances and I just want to keep getting in the team and building on that.
“We’ve got great quality and more importantly it’s great character because (today) they take the lead twice and it’s like ‘oh god, we need to get ourselves back together’ and we did that really well today especially second half. We weren’t afraid of anyone or anything and we ran our socks off for each other and with the quality that we’ve got it’s hard not to create chances or goals within the games.
“I just want to keep putting in the good performances, keep developing well, working hard and trying to get myself on the score sheet more and maybe more assists and create more chances from wherever I may play, whether I am a deep lying central midfielder or higher up, just keep creating and developing.
“Then for the team to just to carry on the momentum, we have to keep trying to win every game, whether it’s a friendly game, cup game or a league game, we’ve just got to get used to winning, staying top and working hard for each other.”