Daniel Stendel takes aim at Barnsley FC attitude after loss to Leeds United U21s and issues Ziyad Larkeche update
Daniel Stendel has delivered his assessment of Barnsley’s defeat to Leeds United Under-21s
Barnsley head coach Daniel Stendel took aim at the attitude of his players following their 4-3 defeat to Leeds United Under-21s.
A vibrant Leeds side took the fight to the Reds in the EFL Trophy clash at Oakwell, racing into a three-goal lead inside the opening 45 minutes.
They made it four on the 70-minute mark as Callum Mills completed his hat-trick and appeared to be cruising to an emphatic win.
Late goals from Vimal Yoganathan, Amani Richards and Luca Connell set up a nervy finish for the youthful visitors, but Barnsley could not complete a miraculous comeback.
Daniel Stendel’s assessment
Stendel said: “In all parts of the game, too less from us. The players knew that we have one week off after the game, but as I said before, we want to finish the last day with a good performance, especially from some players who have not played so much.
“For Jubril [Okedina], it was the first game in, I don’t know how long [it’s been] since he last played. Especially in the back four, we have not so much options today, but it doesn’t matter.
“It was from the attitude, especially in the first half, mentality and the desire to win the duels against a young, good under-21s team from Leeds, not good enough today.
“It showed everybody, when you do not have the right attitude on the pitch, it doesn’t matter what you think, it does not matter what you have for quality. What I said in the first half was all things [were] not good enough. This was really disappointing for me because we want to play a good game and everybody should use this chance to show me maybe after the break they have to play.
“It was exactly our game, we want to play high press, defending high, quick transition, good counter-press. [It was] not a performance as a team and everybody was one step too late, and this is not what I expected today.”
Ziyad Larkeche update
Summer signing Ziyad Larkeche was again absent for the Reds and while Stendel is hoping to have the defender back after the international break, he is wary of how little football he will have played.
He said: “It's not a big injury but he's talking a little bit about his pain and at the moment he does his rehab programme.
“I hope also that he is back then after the break, but I think he [has not] trained [for] two weeks and I don't know when he really comes back. That means again, when you're not trained for three weeks, it means you need time to be fit to play.”