We caught up with the Manager earlier this week for his view on the season six games in.
Sven told us: “So far I think we’ve done very, very well, if you take away the Blackburn game. I think the boys have been doing exactly what’s been asked of them.”
With the Blues sitting just a point off the pace at the top of the Barclays Premier League, it’s hard to ignore the current position, but as ever Eriksson deals with it in a cool and calm manner.
“We’re in great spirits and I’m very happy,” he said. “I think we should try to avoid talking about positions, the season is very long and we’ve just started it, but touch wood, so far very good.”
Much was made before a ball had been kicked about City’s hastily arranged squad, but the Manager himself was never in doubt of the quality he had brought to the Club.
Eriksson stated: “I was sure before we started the league at West Ham. Then we have become more and more sure because they have played well in all the games.
“Then we had a step backwards at Blackburn, I was not happy with that and I don’t think any player was happy with that.
“We had a long break because of international football after that and it was a little bit of a worry. I was thinking, what kind of team do we have - the Blackburn team or the one from against Manchester United? I think the answer came on Sunday with Aston Villa.
“The spirit, fighting, playing good football at times – we conceded some chances – but I think in 90 minutes you do that against such a good team. I was very happy after that because of the three points and the way we played.”
One noticeable aspect of Sven’s management style is his calm demeanour, which he keeps even when things are getting frantic out on the pitch, something he thinks is rubbing off on the team with a little help from his coaching lieutenants.
“We try to play like that, of course you have to stay calm. You will not play good football if you are frustrated, it’s the same on the bench I think, I’ve said many times it’s useless me screaming from the bench because nobody will hear me with my voice!
“So I tell Derek [Fazackerley] because he has a good voice. If there’s a break in the game then I can take that time to explain to a player how I want them to do things.”
City are five points better off at this stage of the season than last, which was viewed as a good start and a happy Eriksson concluded: “I am delighted because I think in six games, four wins and four clean sheets, it’s very good. With a little bit of luck we could have had one or two points more.”
