Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna (centre) says he will continue to trust the process.:
Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna (centre) says he will continue to trust the process. (Image: PA)
Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna insists he will continue to focus on developing the team for the long-term rather than searching for a quick fix solution going into the final stages of a relegation fight.
Following back-to-back promotions, the Blues are staring down the barrel of relegation back to the Championship after winning just three of their 28 Premier League games so far this season.
There’s no doubting that Town have been highly competitive in the majority of their matches in the top flight, but it’s been a sobering season of repeated fine margins defeats.
With a six-point deficit to make up on Wolves (effectively seven due to goal difference), the Blues boss was asked if greater weight would now be put on finding ways to get points rather than performances.
“We’ve always believed that good performances lead to points,” he replied.
“Of course, when you get to the end stage of the season, you maybe think a little bit more short-term. If you’re at the start of the season and you’re picking up results from poor performances you’re glad to have the points, but you also know that in the longer-term it’s not going to lead you to where you want to get.
“The feel does change a little bit the closer you get to the end of the season. With less games ahead, results feel more important. But the best way, we believe, is still to focus on the performances.”
The Blues boss added: “Every experience for us this year has been a big challenge.
“Some go your way and plenty don’t go your way, but I think if you keep approaching them in the right way, if you keep finding the right response in your daily work, if you stay consistent in your behaviours, stay consistent in our processes, stay consistent in trying to drive the culture here, I think that builds trust between a group that hasn’t been together that long in the pathway that we’re on.
“We keep reviewing and renewing the things that we’re doing well and keep looking for ways to get better. I think that has been really consistent and common across the three years here, and we’re doing it in a different context this year.”
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