It is an unwritten rule that when the unavoidable question has to be asked of a manager that dubious privilege falls to a local journalist.
Thus it was yours truly who led the questioning at what is likely to be Csaba Laszlo final post-match press conference, held an hour or so after United’s disastrous defeat to Ross County.
Here is the full transcript:
Q: Well, Csaba, after such a terrible result, have you considered resigning at all?
A: Look, I don’t think that this now is the right question. On the other side, it’s a terrible result. I think also that the team knows… I think also that we have to take responsibility, yes. It is not that this is just (about) one or two persons. Today, let’s say, the full team can take the responsibility because I don’t think we are so bad just according to results. We lost five goals at home. I think, especially after the game at Falkirk we were very positive and 100% about the upcoming games. (We knew) it would not be easy but we showed confidence and I was also happy that the injured players were coming back. Today, definitely, this result was one to avoid and this is not what we wished.
Q: Is this the worst you have felt as a manager here?
A: Yes, definitely, especially in our home stadium you don’t have to concede these goals. At the moment I am not pointing at anybody but I think everybody knows how this performance was. I think also, in the first 20 minutes, we tried to push them and tried to play and we (lost) very easy goals which we should have been avoided. After half-time we came out and had to show a reaction so we brought Billy King in and also Stewart Murdoch because Fraser Aird got an injury. We were hoping he (Aird) could play but he got a dead leg so we had to take him out. After Stewart Murdoch – after two minutes on the pitch – managed to make a stupid foul and got the red card it was game over.
Q: Yes but how do you as a manager recover from a situation where you have fans calling for your head even at half-time? How can you recover from this?
A: It is only to win the next game. We have to win the next game. You can’t recover by going home and (trying to) sleep easily. But I was confident – and am confident still – in the team. I think this is a good team but this was a really, really unlucky day today.
Q: Do you expect to speak to the chairman over the next day or two?
A: I think I talk always to the chairman so yes.
Q: Csaba, do the players still believe in you because when Stewart came on he made that decision after three minutes and then in the last 20 minutes there was no pressure from the team?
A: Look, I don’t think that he made this extra (sic). If Stewart Murdoch comes in and make the stupid foul then you have to ask Stewart Murdoch. I believe in my players and I think they feel the same (as me) after losing this game.
Q: You have said that you believe in your players and that you are a good team. Where is the evidence after a performance like that?
A: Today there was not any evidence of that, definitely.
Q: Do you feel let down by the players?
A: Look, the players let themselves down too. It is not so that they just let me down. I think, these players, we brought them in to show that we want to qualify back to the Premier League and everybody had responsibility. After this defeat it is not easy to find the clear words.
Q: Can you understand why the fans were calling for you to go at both half-time and full-time?
A: I don’t (expect) the fans to be happy after this defeat. I also am not happy about it, you know.
