As Sammie Szmodics prepares for Derby County’s upcoming home fixture, the forward reflected on a mixed midweek performance, his first goal for the club, and the challenges ahead against familiar foes.
Having settled into the squad over his first three matches, Szmodics spoke openly about his relationship with the manager, the importance of staying focused in the Championship, and his hopes of building momentum as the season enters its decisive stages.
After scoring his first goal for Derby County despite a frustrating away loss on Tuesday night, Szmodics admitted he was pleased personally but disappointed with the result and performance outcome.
On the game:
“Yeah, mixed emotions really. I thought we deserved a lot more out of the game.
It was quite a crazy game. I did think we’d done enough to win, but we can’t be giving away sloppy goals at this level because you do get punished.
So mixed emotions, but happy, like you said, to score my first goal for Derby and hopefully many more.”
Having now played three matches since joining, the attacker says he’s enjoying adapting to his new surroundings and learning the tactical demands placed on him.
On adapting to the team:
“Yeah, I knew a lot of the lads before I came anyway, but just getting to grips with how they play, how the manager wants them to play, and I’m thoroughly enjoying it.
“Debut against Swansea City with a win is most important and two tough games on the road, but looking forward to bouncing back on Saturday.”
Szmodics previously enjoyed one of the most productive spells of his career under the same manager, and he believes that relationship is already helping him rediscover his best form.
On working together again:
“Yeah, great. As a manager, he’s brilliant, but as a man manager, he’s even better. He’s made me feel really welcoming and, like you said, I played my best football under him.
“Hopefully with the goal on Tuesday night, I can bring that form that I had at Blackburn into Derby, but I’m thoroughly enjoying working with him again.”
Known for his goalscoring record in previous seasons, the forward admitted he puts pressure on himself to deliver which made his first goal even more significant.
On scoring early in his Derby spell:
“Yeah, of course. I love scoring goals. I’ve scored a lot of goals in my career. Like you said, I think I got 15 and 20 under the gaffer, which was one of the main reasons I wanted to come back.
“I do put a lot of pressure on myself, so to get one so early into my Derby career is fantastic for me. It takes the shackles off and the pressure off and I feel like I can go on to get many more.”
Next up is a reunion with his old side Blackburn Rovers, a match Szmodics expects to be competitive despite their current league position.
On the weekend fixture:
“Yeah, a good team. I don’t think the league position probably resembles recently how they’ve been. I’ve watched a lot of their games.
I watch them when I can. It’s a great club, a big football club, and an athletic side that we’re going to have to be right up for it. It’ll be a good game.
I know it means a lot to a lot of the lads and it’ll mean a lot to them, so it’s going to be a good game we’re looking forward to.”
With the season entering its decisive stage, Szmodics says the message inside the dressing room is to remain calm, focused, and united.
On the squad’s mentality:
“We’ve just got to stay level-headed and positive and take every game as it comes. Not get too high when we win a game, but not get too low when we lose.
Like you said, 13–12 games left. A lot of football still to be played, a lot of points to be played for.
We’ve just got to stay positive and block out all that negativity and focus on us and winning games and getting back on that trail and finding that form again.
Before I came, I think the home form was quite tough. I don’t think we’d won a game, so to win at Swansea and, like I said, two tough games on the road.
Now we’ve got that win at home, we can hopefully push on and get another win at the weekend.”
