Ethan Laird names the vital, recent change Chris Davies has implemented at Birmingham City
Ethan Laird opened up on early life at Birmingham City under Chris Davies, in a one-on-one interview with Birmingham World.
Birmingham City defender Ethan Laird is delighted with the progress already being made under new manager Chris Davies, with one particular change having a positive impact.
The former Manchester United man, in excellent spirits following Wednesday’s 2-1 pre-season win over Rangers, believes Blues are now capable of beating any team on their day.
That may seem a little far-fetched given Birmingham’s recent relegation to League One, but the confidence within the squad has sky-rocketed since Davies arrived. The 5-0 defeat to Paderborn worried supporters but Blues have since bounced back and displayed a new, pragmatic approach.
“When we’re going to play against whoever, it doesn’t really phase us because we train how we play. It’s been a big thing already that the gaffer has implemented these standards to ensure training is the hardest thing,” Laird told Birmingham World when asked about Davies’ early demands.
“You can see that we are very comfortable on the ball and whenever we lose it we win it straight back. It’s that intensity; I love it, the team loves it and the fans - if they are not already - will love that type of play.”
Davies has made it clear from the offset that he wants his Birmingham side to be the fittest in League One and that’s been realised in these first few fixtures. Stamina still needs to be worked on - and there will no doubt be some teething problems with further implementations of tactics - but the initial signs are positive.
“It’s hard but at the end of the day, it helps us because it can very distraught for the other team if you keep getting at them,” Laird said.
“When the ball goes out for a throw, we get it straight back in play, things like that. You don’t give the opposition time to get in and that’s when gaps appear for goals to be scored.
“The gaffer has loads of different tactics but the main thing for him is heart, first and foremost it’s intensity and relentlessness. Yes, it’s intense, but it’s intensity that will reward us,” Laird concluded.