Much has been made of City’s inability to convert enticing attacking positions into attempts on goal during Saturday’s defeat to Sheffield United, but the Dane is more measured in his assessment. City had 20 crosses into the box and multiple set pieces, but they were unable to test Michael Cooper between the sticks. Reflecting on that lacklustre performance at Bramall Lane, Thorup revealed why he wants to look beyond the shots on target statistic. “I actually think we took two or three decisions outside of the box to shoot that was actually the wrong decision,” according to him.
“It could have been an easy save for the custodian, but it would have counted as a shot on target, and most people would say, ‘Okay, you had one shot on target,’ but it’s not relevant to me. “I’ve heard other coaches in this league talk about how vital it is to have a lot of shots on goal, but it’s not important to us. It doesn’t matter how we play. It’s critical that we get into places, particularly the penalty box, where the chances of scoring are higher. That’s how we see it offensively.”That’s decision-making, group actions, and making each other appear good. When we have certain individuals up front, it’s hard not to mention Borja Sainz, who is a threat from distance. “We should not urge him not to shoot when he is in a good position outside the box, but there are other players – without naming names – to whom you should say, ‘Please don’t shoot outside the box. “That is a learning viewpoint from players who need to figure out what is best for them. The way we approach it is that we want to generate as many opportunities as possible.” The most difficult challenge for a coach is to give players leeway in the final third while keeping a structured offence.

Thorup believes Borja Sainz’s goal-scoring run this season is evidence of their work in that area.

“The hardest part in football is to score goals and create chances,” Thorup admitted. “That is naturally some of the most difficult moments in football to train and prepare. I think that the way we do it is the right way.

Borja Sainz has scored 15 goals for Norwich City in the Championship this season. (Image by Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd.)”We look at the players, their abilities, and what they can do, and then we strive to create moments for them in the game repeatedly so that the game does not become random for us. It becomes a game in which they may identify scenarios such as Borja Sainz’s goals. “I won’t take credit for the quality of his finishing; that’s entirely up to him – but the fact that we’ve managed to put him in the same situation over and over again is down to the collective effort. That is down to the movements of other players to open up the space for him to show how good he is. That’s how we look at it.

“There will always be a difference whether we play with Jack Stacey on the last line, Oscar Schwartau, Lewis Dobbin, or Onel Hernandez. That is the preparation for us coaches to determine how the player can perform optimally in that position. That is what we are striving to accomplish.”

Read more on sportupdates.co.uk