RFS head coach Viktors Morozs praised his side’s preparation and defensive discipline after a 2-0 victory over Glentoran secured a 4-1 aggregate win in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League.
Morozs said RFS had spent the days before the second leg working specifically on how to limit Glentoran’s crossing threat.
“Over the last few days, we worked a lot on the opponent’s crosses,” he said. “I am very satisfied with our defending, apart from one situation. In the opening minutes, with the score at 1-0, both the central defence and the midfield dealt with it very well. There were also many situations in which we did not allow the opponent to cross, but overall I am very satisfied.”
RFS also prepared for Glentoran to take more risks as the Northern Irish side attempted to overturn the deficit from the first leg.
“We expected that it could happen from the first minutes,” Morozs said. “We prepared for it as well. We had to be ready for that possibility. We wanted to use those situations with passes between the lines and also use the areas when the full-backs were in positions favourable to us.”
Morozs acknowledged that the match also gave RFS experience of a type of contest they do not regularly encounter during the domestic season.
“It was interesting for us to play because we do not have many matches like this over the course of a season,” he said. “We gave up the initiative at times, but if we had not matched them in those battles, we would have had major problems. That is exactly what I am very satisfied with.”
Morozs welcomed the growing influence of younger players within his squad, saying their development was increasing competition for places.
“There are some young players who may be taking on more important roles in the team, and that also pleases me,” he said. “It sharpens the competition, and the experienced players must not relax. Of course, that is very good. It allows us to think that there will be progress. […] It is clear that young players will develop by playing. If they have such important roles in the team, they will grow. The team will grow together with them.”
