David Wagner: Norwich City boss accepts criticism over club's poor form
- Published
David Wagner was won 14 and lost 16 of his 37 games in charge of Norwich
Under-pressure Norwich City manager David Wagner says the club's current struggles are "difficult" and bringing him "anything but joy".
The Canaries suffered their second home defeat in four days after losing 2-1 to in-form Middlesbrough on Tuesday.
They have now won only once in seven league games and are 14th in the Championship table.
"I have to make sure I'm focused on how I can get players' confidence back and keep clean sheets," Wagner said.
"We can't get affected by the difficult period we have - we looked affected confidence-wise and we have to get over this hard period, name what went wrong, and make sure we stick together."
Norwich's latest defeat came courtesy of a Sam Greenwood strike just after half-time and an stoppage-time second from Samuel Silvera as Boro took the points, despite Jon Rowe's 99th-minute goal halving the deficit.
"We are conceding too many goals - that's something we have to solve. We don't look confident in possession," Wagner told BBC Radio Norfolk.
"The goals we conceded were not down to a tactical approach. It was individual mistakes and our decision-making was wrong - this can't happen."
Wagner 'understands' fans' criticism
During the match at Carrow Road, sections of the home fans were calling for Wagner's exit and the 52-year-old German, appointed in January after the sacking of Dean Smith, says he understands where the supporters are coming from.
"I take the criticism. It's not nice, but I take it," he said.
"We haven't performed and not got enough results, which is not what we wanted.
"It's difficult and is [bringing me] anything but joy. In football, you have moments where it isn't easy and this is a moment where it counts to stick together and to make your sure solve the issue.
"I can't get affected by the noise - even if I totally get it."
The Canaries' poor run is in stark contrast to how they started the season, when five wins in their first seven games had them firmly among the Championship's early pace-setters.
And it is the memory of that run that is giving Wagner the belief they can turn things around, ahead of Saturday's trip to ninth-placed Sunderland.
"Everyone spoke about our start, now it's the opposite - that's how football is," he said.
"It can change quickly and this is what we have to work on."
Wagner also gave an update on the fitness of Scotland goalkeeper Angus Gunn, saying the 27-year-old will miss the next three games with a leg injury.
Gunn was hurt in Norwich's defeat by Leeds last Saturday and has had a scan.
Wagner does expect Gunn to be fit for Scotland's Euro 2024 qualifiers against Georgia and Norway next month and available for the match against Queens Park Rangers on 25 November.