Daniel Farke was pleased with side’s 2-0 win against their highest level of opposition in pre-season so far as Norwich City beat Huddersfield Town at Lotus Training Centre.
“A good important step forward today,” he said. “It was our most difficult opponent so far - definitely the best and sharpest team, so we knew it would be competitive. The last time we met them we were there with a clear result so I was sure they were greedy today to show something.
“It was a really competitive game, a really good first half and we dominated them but missed a few chances to be higher up. It was a great goal from Teemu after a fantastic pass from Lukas. We could have scored a few more.
“It was perfect timing of the pass from Lukas and with Teemu we know his movements are smart and always spot on and it was an ice cold finish, so it’s good to have him back. Pre-season results aren’t that important and the goals aren’t that important but it’s always a good sign when the offensive players score.
“It’s always good for the confidence. In pre-season, you would expect us to win games against teams from lower tiers but quite often there are surprising results, but not so far for us. We were focused and wanted to be effective and win the game, so I’m pleased with the soft skills.
“In the second half, we had a few changes and had to play without some important players and lost the control a bit. We changed the base formation and won the control back but then in the last minutes they put a bit of pressure on us again so we changed personnel.
“I wanted to see a bit of steel so it’s important for me that we return with a clean sheet. It was a second good goal from Adam Idah, so quite pleased today.”
City fans watching from home were full of praise for Pierre Lees-Melou’s performance, the Frenchman dictating play from a deeper midfield position with Kieran Dowell instead playing number ten.
“I watched it live and I enjoyed the performance as well,” Farke said. “He has shown from the first day his experience, quality and calmness on the ball. He’s also competitive and when it’s time to set a sign he can do this as well.
“In possession, he played slightly deeper in midfield today and although he hasn’t fulfilled this that often in his career, he fulfilled all my expectations today and he’s already an important, integral member of our squad so we’re all pleased that we have him.”
Next week, Norwich head to Yorkshire to face Coventry City at Chesterfield and Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.
“They’re always different periods during pre-season,” Farke said. “Some focus more on fitness and some on your game with the ball. There are games when you focus more on your work against the ball and pressing, so results aren’t that important but I want us to go the next step and improve different areas within the game and to work on the fitness level.
“I want us to go with this attitude of wanting to win games and not conceding, especially when there are many changes during the game and it’s not that easy, we’ve done that in the last two games.
“I want to see this resilience and steel in the defence in the next week.”