Huddersfield Town manager André Breitenreiter has piled the pressure on Birmingham City by insisting this weekend’s game is ‘do or die for both teams’.
The Terriers will be relegated to League One if they lose to Blues at the John Smith’s Stadium. It is unlikely Blues’ fate will be decided on Saturday but there is a scenario that could see them relegated if results go against them.
“My approach to coaching is positive and optimistic and when you are in a relegation battle it needs calmness,” says Breitenreiter. “But sometimes you think some players don’t deserve optimistic and positive things, and maybe some more pressure, and this is what we can also expect on Saturday. Now there is a lot of pressure. It’s a do or die game on Saturday for sure - for both teams.”
Like Gary Rowett, Breitenreiter was whisked in to save Huddersfield from relegation late in the season. The German has managed two wins from his 12 games in charge and was furious after the 4-0 defeat to Swansea City last time out.
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Breitenreiter will be without defender Tom Lees due to a knee injury but he has hinted that other changes will be made to his XI. The Huddersfield boss will also take the unusual step of naming his team on the morning of the game.
“It’s always a question about options and competition in the team. For a long time we haven’t had the competition because of many injuries and now some players are in training for many weeks and, who knows, maybe now they are the solution to start. We will decide maybe on Saturday morning because of the feeling in our stomach.”
