Dundee Striker Praises Manager’s Positive Influence After Strong Start to New Season
Dundee striker Joe Westley has expressed his appreciation for manager Steven Pressley, highlighting the “massive impact” he has made following a strong start to the new season. Pressley’s unexpected appointment last summer faced skepticism from a significant portion of the Dark Blues’ fanbase, particularly after the team failed to progress beyond the League Cup group stage.
However, Pressley has since gained the trust of the supporters by leading the club to an eighth-place finish in the Premiership last season and has overseen a commendable start for the current campaign. “He has a massive impact,” Westley noted regarding his manager’s influence.
Reflecting on the past year, Westley stated, “Last year when all the noise was going around us we didn’t listen to it; we have always known what the manager brings. There has never been a doubt in any of our minds that we didn’t want him here or anything like that.” He emphasized the team’s commitment to working hard for Pressley, acknowledging the tough times they navigated together last season. “Every time we go out on the pitch, we want to win, but we want to win for him as well because he is such a great manager and a great person,” Westley said.
The striker also praised Pressley for fostering team cohesion and inspiring the squad to perform well, adding, “He is just great to work for, and we all love him. We just want to keep improving every week for him.”
After starting their Premiership season with a narrow 1-0 loss to champions Celtic, Dundee bounced back with a commanding 2-0 victory over Aberdeen last weekend. Westley opened the scoring with an assist from Joe Bevan, who netted the second goal. The duo seemed to share a long-standing connection, with Westley revealing, “We played together at Burnley as well so I knew him quite well before he came here.”
He continued, “Throughout the age groups at Burnley, we always had a little connection where I have always demanded chances off him. I have always said to him, ‘you need to cross me the ball,’ and I think you could see I knew when he cut in there that was the ball he was going to deliver. I think it is a connection we can keep building on,” Westley concluded. “He has done brilliantly this season so far, and hopefully, he continues it.”
Dundee striker Joe Westley has hailed the “massive impact” of manager Steven Pressley after a bright start to the new season.
Pressley’s surprise appointment last summer didn’t go down well with a large proportion of the Dark Blues support and he came under serious criticism after failing to get out of the League Cup group stage.
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But he has won the doubters over after guiding the club to an eighth place Premiership finish last term, and presiding over an impressive start to this campaign.
“He has a massive impact,” Westley said of his boss.
“Last year when all the noise was going around us we didn’t listen to it, we have always known what the manager brings and there has never been a doubt in any or our minds that we didn’t want him here or anything like that.’
“We have always wanted to work for him 100% and we stuck together through some tough times last year but I think you can see every time we go out on the pitch we want to win, but we want to win for him as well because he is such a great manager and a great person as well.
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“And he keeps the group so close, inspires us to go and play. He is just great to work for and we all love him and we just want to keep improving every week for him.”
After opening their Premiership season with a narrow 1-0 defeat at champions Celtic, Dundee were commanding 2-0 home winners over Aberdeen last weekend.
Westley got the first goal against the Dons after a great assist from Joe Bevan who netted the second.
It appears the connection between the two players is one that has been years in the making.
“We played together at Burnley as well so I knew him quite well before he came here,” the 21-year-old added.
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“And throughout the age groups at Burnley we always had a little connection where I have always demanded chances off him.
“I have always said to him ‘you need to cross me the ball’ and I think you could see I knew when he cut in there that was the ball he was going to deliver. I think it is a connection we can keep building.’
“He has done brilliantly this season so far and hopefully he continues it.”
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