Bialkowski on Hurst: From the Beginning There Was No Communication Sunday, 4th Aug 2019 11:18 On-loan Blues keeper Bartosz Bialkowski has lifted the lid on life at Portman Road under former boss Paul Hurst. Bialkowski, 32, who made his debut for loan club Millwall yesterday as a 43rd minute sub in their 1-0 home victory over Preston, confirms much of the rumour which circulated during Hurst’s 149-day spell in charge of Town. Speaking to Polish website Weszlo.com in a lengthy interview, Bialkowski says that from the start all was not well between the new management team and the squad. "He's a strange character, very strange. It's true, I didn't hide the fact that we didn't get along. And it wasn't just me," he said. "From the very beginning, there was a lack of communication between the coaching staff and the players. Hurst kept saying that the door to his office is always open and he's always ready to talk. "But when you'd pass by his office and see him sitting in the chair with his feet up on his desk, any thought of an honest talk would be gone instantly." Bialkowski says Hurst was harsh on the older players, claiming they were more interested in money than giving their all for the club. "After a defeat, he would often focus on us, more experienced players, and point out the fact that we earn more and, supposedly, we only care about money," he continued. "It was obviously a nonsense. How a man, who's only been in the club for a month, could say things like that? "Of course, money is important, but if you want to keep being paid the same, you have to give 100 per cent all the time, otherwise you'll sit on the bench tomorrow and some time later you'll be gone from playing seriously. Football can be brutal. "Some players had been in the club for five or six years and felt a strong connection with it, the atmosphere was great. And such words hurt a lot, it was completely out of line." Regarding his infamous dropping ahead of the Norwich match, Bialkowski again cites a lack of communication. "It doesn't matter if I deserved it or not. There was no communication between us," he said. "I was waiting for the Norwich match, the most important game of the season. The day before, we had a tactical briefing and I was in the starting line-up. "The next day, I am in the dressing room, an hour and a half before the kick-off, the manager reads out the starting XI and I'm not there. "That hurt the most, such a disrespectful attitude. If he was going to put me on the bench, I wouldn't be happy, obviously, but if he informed me about it face to face, there would be no problem. But instead, he went for some weird mind games." The Poland international says no one was upset when Hurst, now manager of Scunthorpe, departed last October: "No, definitely not, everyone felt better deep inside. I can tell from the look on the lads' faces that they felt a relief too." Bialkowski, who describes Paul Lambert as “a very good coach”, says otherwise he has had great relationships with managers in England. "I am not a confrontational person and I've always had great relationships with my managers," he added. "But Hurst turned out to be the only man I couldn't get along with at all." The keeper also hints that his time at Town may not necessarily be over with his move to the Lions only a loan and with no provision for a permanent switch included in the deal. “I left for an annual loan, maybe in the case of promotion there I will come back. Nothing can be ruled out,” he added. He also confirmed that Millwall’s concerns regarding his knee, which led to the breakdown of the intended permanent switch last month, related to the ACL operation he had in 2006 when with Southampton. “I did not have any health problems. It's known that 13 years ago I tore the ligaments in my knee. It will never be in perfect condition during tests, but basically since then I have not felt any discomfort in it," he continued. “Millwall, however, were afraid to take a chance, every club treats things differently. They would have to spend a lot of money for me and hesitated.” He says he’s fine and has no problem having played regularly throughout his five years with the Blues and before that with Nottis County, adding: “For me, the main determinant is simply that I feel physically good and after the operation the knee has never bothered me anymore. “It is known that in 13 years something in it might rub off. I suspect, however, that after an accurate x-ray you would find some imperfections in every professional footballer.” Elsewhere, it’s reported that striker Tom Elliott’s aborted loan move to the Blues from Millwall last week didn’t even get as far as a medical due to the 28-year-old’s current lack of fitness. According to The Sun, Elliott had a shoulder problem in addition to the hamstring injury which it was known he suffered in pre-season. Elliott's move was initially said to be 'on hold', however, speaking about it on Friday Blues boss Lambert said the move is off: “It's not going to happen.”
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