Paul Hartley Was Right To Bench Me — I’M Back To My Best Again Says Thomas Konrad

[TheDarkBlues]

Source: The Evening Telegraph

Dundee central defender Thomas Konrad says his manager’s decision to drop him from the first team is starting to pay off.

The German stopper has been impressive for much of the season after his move from Eintracht Trier but found himself on the subs bench for most of January’s games after a dip in form.

The tough run of festive fixtures is something new to Konrad and he revealed manager Paul Hartley decided to rest him for much of the month to give the German something similar to the winter break he was used to on the continent.

Now he is getting back to his best in dark blue and credits the gaffer for setting him on the road back to form.

“I’m feeling good right now, I’m very happy I’m back in the team,” he said.

“The gaffer spoke with me and said I needed a break because it’s a new situation for me.

“It’s not like Germany with the winter break, so maybe I felt a wee bit tired.

“It was a lot of games for me, so I’m happy now and I feel good.

“In my head I was maybe a bit tired, one step too slow and in tackles.

“It was the right decision for the manager to take me out.”

After the weekend defeat at Ross County, Dundee now have a spell of three weeks without a game.

Konrad thinks this enforced mid-season break can be a good thing for the team, with the injury list at the club having piled up over the past few weeks.

“It is maybe a good thing having the break.

“We have a lot of injuries and we can get everyone back, so we can prepare better than we have done for the last few games.

“I think we will be back in shape by the end of the break.”

The disappointing defeat to Ross County was compounded by the poor performance, which also brought to an end Dundee’s run of eight league games without defeat since the derby debacle on New Year’s Day.

“I don’t think we were good enough against Ross County for one point or three points.

“We didn’t pass the ball effectively, they defended well and we didn’t create any chances.

“You cannot win if you don’t create any chances.

“It was eight games undefeated and now we have to start again.

“But that’s football and you can’t win every game.

“Now we have a big break and a chance to rest, train and prepare for the next game.”

The 25-year-old is enjoying his time in Scotland after making the move in the summer and feels the game over here suits him.

“Scottish football is a wee bit harder.

“There are more tackles and you have to do more headers.

“In Germany, there’s more passing, it’s a wee bit faster in the higher leagues.

“For me, it’s better here in Scotland. I’m enjoying being here in Dundee, it’s perfect for me.”

[JoeCovenant]

s'terrible when the site owner nips in and does yer job for ya... 

(actually very good timing,.... today wasn't a day for speed insofar as anything but work was concerned!)