Mousinho: Setting Sentiment Aside as Boss Gears Up for Burton Reunion
In his three seasons as a player at Burton, John Mousinho witnessed notable success, leading the team to consecutive promotions from League Two to the Championship and contributing to their stability in the second tier. However, tonight he finds himself in the away dugout as Portsmouth faces Burton at the Pirelli Stadium.
While Conor Shaughnessy and Christian Saydee also reunite with their former side, Mousinho emphasizes the team’s commitment to maintaining focus. The Portsmouth boss stated, “I haven’t dwelled on it too much, but my time there as a player was successful, and it’s always a positive experience to return. Nevertheless, our primary focus is on winning this game, and sentimental attachments are set aside.”
Acknowledging the former club connection shared with Shaughnessy and Saydee, Mousinho emphasizes that sentiments won’t distract the team. He notes, “For us, it’s a former club, but its relevance is confined to me, Conor, and Christian. We won’t let the occasion overshadow our objective; instead, we’ll concentrate on delivering a strong performance.”
Reflecting on Burton’s recent form, Mousinho acknowledges the challenges posed by the opposition. He comments, “Dino Maamria has assembled a formidable Burton side, even though they’ve faced some struggles in recent weeks. However, they’ve matched our points tally from October and consistently performed above expectations. We recognize the threats across the pitch and need to stay vigilant.”
The absence of Joe Morrell, serving a two-match suspension after his second red card of the season, is a setback for Portsmouth. Mousinho discusses the situation, saying, “We’ve addressed the issue with Joe, and he understands that such incidents are not acceptable, despite the challenges not being the most severe. Once you’ve received a yellow card for the first one, going to ground is unnecessary in today’s refereeing context, as it often leads to a red card.”
On the injury front, Mousinho provides an update, stating, “We have no new injury concerns. Zak Swanson was absent on Saturday pending scan results for an ankle issue, but we hope it’s nothing major. Gavin Whyte was unavailable against Blackpool for personal reasons, and we anticipate him not being part of the Burton fixture either.”
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