Press news in...

🚨NCFC boss Philippe Clement is set to join Dr D at Coolknee to preview tomorrow's trip to Boro.
--------------------------------------------------------------

'He's going to be out for a while. It's worse than we expected.' Clement confirms on Pelle Mattsson. No specific timescale given, but it is the ankle injury suffered against Coventry.

Clement keen to avoid negativity over the Mattsson issue. Tells a story about his time at Brugge and how it's now about controlling the controllables. Admits Norwich don't have a like for like replacement in the building, but is happy with Jacob Wright's progress.

Clement confirms there are internal talks ongoing about whether to search for a midfield replacement in the final days of the transfer market. Liam Gibbs also an option with others being considered internally.

Clement says there are a couple of players being assessed with knocks in training. Forson hasn't rejoined training as of yet, they have decided to be cautious but the hope is that he will back next week.

Paris Maghoma won't be included in the squad for the moment. They have done tests and Clement says he is in 'a better condition than expected' but still too early for selection. Work ongoing to get him back to match speed.

Mirko Topic and Ante Crnac have remained in meetings and their recovery is going as expected, but still expected to miss the remainder of the season.

People working hard behind the scenes with signings. Clement not being drawn on specific deals, but in general wants quality and depth. 'It's no use to bring players in who won't reach the level that we want, but it may be someone who isn't currently at that level but can be. It's about what is possible for the club.'

Clement on talks with talks - have players been keener to join?: 'We have a lot of talks this month. I will be happy when it's February because I also get tired and there is lots of extra work, but I want the best squad. You are in contact with players for a long time before they talk with me. We have seen people are much more interested now, because they can see where the club is going. A result like against Coventry helps. If you're in a relegation spot and you're losing, then it's hard. Those things help.'

On the general noise and franticness of the final days: 'Do I look panicked? Everyone is working really hard to get what we want. It's about the club, not about me. It's about getting players who can help the team, not just about getting bodies in. I want to get a few over the line, and then we have a summer window to push it on. We need to raise the quality in the squad to help our ambitions in the rest of the season.

Clement asked about VAR in the Championship after Monday's incidents: 'I need to focus on Norwich. It's not my role to look at things in the Championship. I can give my view, I think VAR makes the game more honest. There is a more clear chance to make the right decision. It's more honest than now, when incidents just pass by. I don't think the two moments happen if there is VAR, because the players know there are cameras on them all the time. It makes the game less brutal. If you see the level of the Championship and the importance of it, then it should be more clear and closer to the habits of the Premier League. The standards between the two competitions should not be too different. If I see the money being spent, it's a weird that it's not possible to have VAR.'

Ahmed and Slimane relationship: 'It's both (work and natural). We're working on it. Anis and Ali are doing that really well. They feel like fish in the sea, in that football is what they want to do. But it's not something that has fallen out of the sky, they know what they want to do. We want to continue on that.'

Attacking progress: 'Before, the wingers didn't score much. The midfield didn't score. The full backs didn't. Then you come into a dangerous situation. I want to create football where the danger comes from all over the pitch. That is the positive thing from the last few games, you see dangerous things. We need to do it more and more.

Clement has big praise for Cordoba. Describes his performances as being at a 'top level' Championship standard. But needs consistency. 'I've known him for a long time and when I was at Rangers, I wanted to bring him in.' Insists he will keep pressuring him to get better to cut out the mistakes that have been in his game in the past.

Clement on Hellberg: 'I don't know the situation before, but in the period that I've been here, they are the team that have taken the most points. You see how they are chasing Coventry. They are a very good attacking and defensive team. I don't think there is a bigger challenge in the Championship at this moment than going to Boro - but that is a challenge that we are relishing. There is a lot of confidence and desire in this team.'

Clement believes this will be a very different challenge to Coventry. Different identity and 'more difficult to break over', he says.

Improved mindset: 'You need to have the mindset that you can win everywhere and against anyone. I played against lots of players who were better than me, like Zidane, but I had to believe in myself. It was the same when I was at Brugge and we went to Real Madrid - we went there to get points and we did. Those nights at Carrow Road against Coventry will help, because they feel that they are growing, but it won't always be like this. Then it's about how you react. You feel then this winning mentality gets more into the team. I need to feel that inside any players that come into the building also.'

Nice anecdote from Clement about how Paris Maghoma has told him that he's been very welcomed at the club - praise for the wider staff. Nice to hear that.

----------------------------------------------------------------

All done🟡🟢

Posted By: DrDublin on January 30th 2026 at 13:50:20

Message Thread

Reply to Message

In order to add a post to the WotB Message Board you must be a registered WotB user.

If you are not yet registered then please visit the registration page. You should ensure that their browser is setup to accept cookies.

Log in