Di Matteo Talks Bristol City

Manager Roberto Di Matteo has now held his pre Bristol City press conference, and as well as team news he also spoke about new signing Ritchie De Laet.

Opening with De Laet related questions, the gaffer told the Official Site as he met with the press.

‘It was a position that wasn`t covered with two players. He is a player who has good experience at Championship level and Premier League level. He has had promotions. He was also a player who was very keen to join us. He made a big effort to come to us. He had other options on the table, including Premier League. But he wanted to come here. That`s the type of personality we want in this group. We want players who want to be here and want to play for us and want to be part of this project.’

RDM went on to add.

‘I knew a lot about him. When we try and sign players we do a lot of research about the player in every department. I have not been surprised by what I have seen of him on the training pitch. He works very well and I am very pleased he has joined us.’

With Mile Jedinak’s clearance now through and it known he comes into contention for his debut this weekend, Di Matteo said of him.

‘It`s certainly an area in our team where we were looking to strengthen and I believe we have found the right player for us. We are pleased and happy with the business we have done. They all fit very nicely in our squad. We are just looking now to work together and try to improve together as a team. We knew a lot about him before he joined. He has brought exactly the qualities we expected into this group. He`s been captain for many years at Palace. He is captain of his national side. He is a vocal player on the pitch. I think the younger players, especially, will benefit from a player like him alongside them.’

RDM also said both had settled in well and he praised the wider group for how they had accepted all the new players in this summer.

‘Very nicely! We have a group that has been quite open minded to the new players coming in and welcomed them into our team. I think it`s been quite smooth actually. Some knew each other from before. There have been no problems.’

With a search on for a ‘world class’ striker still, when asked about ongoing transfer plans, RDM was coy.

‘It`s difficult to comment on how close you are on any potential signing. Once we have something to announce, we will. We are still trying to finalise some signings for us to help us in that department. There`s a lot going on. But I can`t give any more information on it at the moment.’

Moving onto the opposition this weekend more specifically, he knew we’d be up against a tough side in Bristol City.

‘It`s a team that likes to play football and a team that has a good start. If you look at the last few years, really, it`s been on the up. They got promotion two years ago and then stayed in the league. They are looking to improve. Looking at the last few games, they have been a very tough opponent. I think we have to look at Bristol City as a competitor for the promotion places. It`s going to be a big test again to see how far we have come.’

He added.

‘It would be great to keep that momentum going. It`s so important to build that up. Personally I think we are missing a couple of points that we have given away along the way. But it`s part of our process in that we are making a lot of changes and are trying to implement some principles of attacking and defending in our game. We have left a few points out there but it`s a long season and I am confident we will improve over time. The lads are training well and are committed on a daily basis.’

As for an injury update he admitted a few players would be missing this weekend, but with the international break hopefully that would see them return to training and contention.

‘Rudy Gestede came off in the last game. He has a little hamstrung stain. He won`t be available for Saturday. We hope that after the international break he should be fine. It`s the same with Aaron Tshibola. He has a groin injury but should be available after the international break too. And Joe (Bennett) has a problem with his calf but his situation is the same too. They are little injuries, nothing too big.’