Manager Keith Hill reflects on Tuesday night’s pre-season defeat to Macclesfield Town at the Moss Rose…
“I’m pleased that we suffered defeat, to be honest,” he told Dale PlayerHD.
“It just shows you the typical traits of our squad over the last four days. Last night wasn’t about fitness or ability, it was about the brain and the mentality of the players.
“You’ve got to congratulate Macclesfield on the way they went about their business, because it’s typical of the way we go about our business when we play the likes of Wigan or Blackburn.
“We’ve got to have that mentality to do it no matter who the opposition is, because if you give any opposition half an in, then they’ll take it.
“I thought it was absolutely superb and it just shows you that if we slightly switch off mentally and we allow an opposition in, then anything can happen.”
Hill had a birds-eye view of the game after watching the match from the press box. He says that was a beneficial exercise.
“I took a bit of a back seat to see if the players could actually pick up the gauntlet and manage themselves. It proved last night that they possibly couldn’t reach the heights that I expect without me being vocal on the side of the pitch.
“We do have players at every football club who have bad habits that you try to hide as a manager, and last night there were too many players who showed bad habits and what they’re capable of imploding into. They are good players and they’re naturally fit but the mental application and attitude at times will self-implode like it did last night with four or five players.
“I’m trying to teach and mentor the players, and when I’m not doing it like last night, then they create their own chaos.”
The full interview is on Dale PlayerHD.