Stoke City head coach Narcis Pelach says the way they defend is the reason they are facing so many shots this season, but would also like to reduce the workload on goalkeeper Viktor Johansson.
Only Plymouth Argyle (17.6) average more shots conceded than Stoke (15.8) in the Championship but Pelach has revealed it is partly down to the way they approach games.
“We defend the space rather than the man and when you do that you allow the opposition to have possession in front of you but theoretically it doesn’t hurry you because you always have 11 men behind the ball,” the Potters head coach told BBC Radio Stoke
“I prefer this because if you press all the time and go man for man they get more one v ones against your goalkeeper.
“In the way we defend, we concede more corners than other teams, more shots than others but you always give your goalkeeper a chance to save it.”
As a result, Stoke goalkeeper Johannsson is one of the busiest in the Championship, leading the division for total saves with 67.
“Viktor is playing really well and that’s why I employed (goalkeeping coach) Paul Clements because the way I coach outfield players relates very well to how he coaches the goalkeepers,” Pelach added.
“Everything we do is connected – when the defensive line is doing one thing, Viktor is doing one thing in the goal. No one sees it but it’s all connected.
“I expect a great season for Viktor and he will have to perform because we concede shots – I want to concede fewer but it takes time and it will go down step by step.”
Stoke are at home to promotion chasing Burnley in the Championship on Saturday.