New Stoke manager on taking over at the Bet365 Stadium

Alex Neil quit Sunderland to join the Potters

Author: Trevor ThomasPublished 30th Aug 2022

The new boss has been speaking ahead of tomorrow night's first match for him as manager.

It was revealed over the Bank Holiday weekend that he'd quit the Tyne & Wear side for a three-year contract with Stoke City.

At a press conference at the Bet365 Stadium he says:

"I think as a manager there are certain requirements you would want for your role. I think those for me are available here and it's a good fit for me.

"The clubs which I have gone to before, all the way back to Norwich, I see similarities with. They had come down from the Premier League and wanted to get out of the division .

"Those kinds of roles and jobs have always brought out the best in me, because I managed to get Norwich up that season. It wasn't too dissimilar with Sunderland.

"I don't generally set goals in terms of the whole season. The next goal is to win the next game. There's no point talking about promotion just yet. I shouldn't be talking about trying to do this and that if you can't win the next game. The next game is the most important. It's how I've always worked, not focusing too far down the line.

"We'll set out to win. It's the most important thing in football, and we'll do it in a manner which will give us the best chance with who we have in the team. I think we have very good technical players."

His first game in charge is at home to Swansea tomorrow (Wednesday 31 August).

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