Ebbsfleet United manager Dennis Kutrieb tells players not to be sidetracked by other teams' playing styles against them
Published: 05:00, 14 April 2022
Ebbsfleet manager Dennis Kutrieb feels his team have strayed from their footballing philosophy in recent weeks.
The Fleet are going to have to settle for a play-off place in National League South after a run of just one win in four matches prior to last weekend’s success at bottom club Welling.
The results have meant they remain well adrift of leaders Maidstone but it’s the style of play that has concerned Kutrieb, and he wants them to stick to their principles instead of changing their gameplan.
“As you know, we are always very critical of ourselves and we look at what we could have done better,” said Kutrieb.
“I think especially when you see Braintree, the second half against Dorking, the Hungerford game, they made us play their game more or less.
“Hungerford was a little bit unlucky as we dominated them and had 75 per cent possession when normally you would get something out of the game. But they made us play their game, they waited for a counter attack so they could damage us and they did that twice and scored from there.
“We need to make sure we play our game and are up for it and deliver the basics in the right way, then we don’t need to worry about another team in this league.”
The Welling result was the first time Ebbsfleet had scored more than three goals in a game since early February.
It’s a welcome confidence-booster for Kutrieb with just six games to go before the play-offs.
“It was good and massive for us,” he added. “Not only did we score four goals, we could have had three or four more and that’s good to see.
“Everyone in the squad has to remember what we did at the beginning of the season.
“We need to get back on track with the way that we play and not the way opponents want us to play.
“If we do that then we create more than enough chances, and that’s what we did at Welling. I’m pretty happy for everyone, but especially for the strikers to score goals.”
While teams like Welling need a bit of luck or their opponents to have an off-day to get results, Kutrieb believes that there’s no team in the league who can live with Ebbsfleet on their day.
“That’s why I like the boys,” added the Fleet boss. “They are really good if they want to be, if they are up for it and are prepared.
“Some teams, like Welling, they really fight hard and try everything that is possible. But for us it’s different. If we try everything that is possible then we win our games and that’s a big difference.
“Welling need to be up for it and deliver everything, then they need to have a little bit of game luck, maybe a bad opponent not on their day. But that’s completely different for us, if we are up for it, if we deliver what we can deliver then we don’t need to be worried about other teams.”
Ebbsfleet host Dulwich on Good Friday (3pm) and then travel to Concord on Easter Monday. Defender Joe Martin will return from suspension.
It would appear to be a case of battling for position ahead of the play-off games - but Kutrieb has a different target.
“Just win our games, I wouldn’t say we are playing for a position, we’re just playing for points,” he said.
“We need to get as many points as possible and then we’ll see where we end up. We can’t influence other games, we can’t see what’s going on at other pitches, so I wouldn’t play for a position - just make sure we get as many as possible from the last six games.
“First spot should be gone, I would be very surprised if we can talk about it, but just play for points now - 18 points possible, let’s try and get 18 points, as simple as that.”
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Matthew Panting