Norwich City travel to Middlesbrough on Saturday with manager Philippe Clement confident his squad fully supports the extensive changes underpinning their consecutive Championship victories.
The Canaries secured a 2-1 victory over Birmingham City on Wednesday after sweeping aside Sheffield United last weekend. Clement rested Mohamed Toure and Anis Ben Slimane in midweek to keep his players fresh and exploit specific opposition weaknesses. The manager believes this load-management philosophy prepares his side to neutralise Kim Hellberg’s possession-heavy team at the Riverside Stadium.
Balancing Squad Morale And Tactics
The emergence of summer additions like Anthony Musaba and Andre Brookes has enabled fluid adjustments without dropping performance standards. This approach follows an ongoing shift toward data-driven selection decisions.
Speaking to The Pink Un, Clement explained that keeping the dressing room united remains vital.
“It’s a really good group for the moment, and they feel that we can do something special, and they trust me also that I will make honest decisions, and that I love them all,” he said.
Despite missing the Birmingham fixture, Toure joined his teammates on the pitch after the final whistle. The striker’s absence was a planned breather, highlighting the manager’s careful management of attackers amid a gruelling schedule.
“They know I love them all. Although, if you don’t play, you want to play, and you can be not happy about it,” Clement added.
Toure and Ben Slimane are now available to return to the starting lineup on Teesside this afternoon.
