Ziyad Larkeche is desperate to get Dundee back to winning ways at Motherwell having spent the international break stewing over their Kilmarnock collapse.
It has been a difficult spell for the Dark Blues as they lost three late goals and blew a two goal lead to lose to Killie. Larkeche admitted it has been one of the hardest losses of his career and the extended delay has left him and his team mates chapping at the bit to put that right at Fir Park. Larkeche admitted: “The end of the game was more than frustrating for us.
“The good thing in football is there is always a new opportunity so now we will all focus on Motherwell as it is an important one. Everyone had time to reflect during the international break. We have all worked hard in training and we are all focused on the next challenge, Motherwell away. I think with the scenario and the context with everything going so quickly at the end (against Kilmarnock), it was definitely one of the most frustrating.
“You go into the changing-room afterwards and everyone is devastated. It is part of the process – it is in the past now but we need to learn from it. If you don’t learn from it, what’s the point?
“You will just waste your time and stuff like that will keep happening. Of course, when you are doing something good, you need to analyse it to know why it has been a good result or game. But on the other hand when things don’t go your way, you need to understand and assess it.”
Larkeche and Billy Koumetio are some of the younger players in the Dundee backline and this spell has been a learning experience. He added: “I think everyone needs to stay focused for 90 minutes – that’s the key.
“For a long time we were ahead when it was 10 against 11 but the main thing is to stay together and focused. We are a young team but I believe sometimes you see in different leagues or teams, players can be young but they also show maturity.
“I really believe it is also about the mind-set. Of course, when you have played 200-300 games it helps – it is logical – but on the other hand, the mental aspect of being ready is very important.”
Larkeche knows Dundee have been playing well but they need to turn those performances into points. They have only won one league game this season. He insisted: “I agree but that’s why we need to pick up points. A game like Aberdeen, we played good football but now it is really important not to just play well but to be ruthless in both areas of the pitch, scoring goals but trying to keep a clean sheet.”
The Frenchman has settled in quickly on his loan from Queen’s Park Rangers. The wing-back has also shown he can add an extra dimension. He got his second goal in Dundee against Kilmarnock.
The former Fulham player acknowledged: “When we play the wing-back system it allows me to attack a bit more and get involved. So of course if I can get lots of goals this season, it will be good for me and the team.”