Muslic on survival mission ahead of Watford trip
As Argyle return to action on Saturday, against Watford, following two weeks without a game, they begin what is effectively an eight-game mini-season to save their Sky Bet Championship status.
The Greens are bottom of the table, six points behind the team fourth from bottom, and with an octet of fixtures remaining that include several top-half teams, starting with tenth-placed Watford, at Vicarage Road.
Head Coach Miron Muslic knows the size of the task, but is steadfastly refusing to give in.
“It's a mission, but it's not a mission impossible,” he told Argyle TV.
“We have to make very clear that we have a chance, and a lot of crazy things always happen in the last seven, eight games in any competition, any season. You just have to make sure that, on the last day here - a home game against Leeds - we have everything to play for.
“The next opportunity to grab points is Saturday against Watford, and we will try to go fully and to go all-in.
“We are facing a team trying to reach the play-offs, who have the chance to fight for the Premier League, but the Portsmouth game helped us massively to believe that actually we can perform and win away.
“This should give us confidence to compete on Saturday.
“[Watford are] very dominant with the ball; very, very high individual quality, especially high up on the pitch. [They have] a very dominant captain, [Imran] Louza, who’s preparing almost every single attack, playing deeper, almost like a quarterback. We have to minimise his space, limit his space. We have to be very, very organised in our defensive structure.”
The recent international window has seen several Argyle players head off to represent their countries. Mustapha Bundu scored for Sierra Leone, but came off injured, sparking some worries. However, Muslic reports that the forward is fit for Watford.
Maksym Talovierov will miss the rest of the season but, in better news, Julio Pleguezuelo seems to be over a rib injury picked up in the win at Portsmouth, Ryan Hardie has used the break to improve his fitness, and Adam Randell and Matty Sorinola are available following suspensions.
All this is on top of the fact that much of squad may have been able to recover their bodies, ready for the final push.
“It was a very busy and demanding schedule from January on, playing almost three games per week consistently,” said Muslic. “To escape, to breathe, to take a little bit of distance for three or four days [was good].
“I personally went back home to see my family, spend two-and-a-half days with my family to recharge, to refill, to get all the energy I need so we can go fully, and try to maximize the last five-and-a-half weeks, the last eight matches.
“The lads also returned with a good spirit, with a good mood, with a bunch of energy - it's now up to us to get at this, to maximise this and to start performing again.
“[Mustapha Bundu] returned, the scan was clean; Hardie, we saved him, so he was not involved in our in-house friendly, just to give him the best possible recovery. Adam is finally back, and, believe me, we missed him for five games. I think if he's healthy and he's fit, he's our best player.
“Matty will return after his suspension and Pleggy knocked on my door two days ago, reporting 100% fit. He had his first full-contact training [on Tuesday].
“Of course, we're going to miss Maksym. No doubt, we're going to miss his defensive quality, his fighting spirit, his good character, but that's just part of this game.
“It’s good signs, good news. We just need to make sure that we can perform on Saturday and then everything will be fine.”
