In his first competitive match as Bristol City manager, Michael Skubala has provided reasons behind the absences of key players Tomi Horvat and Sam Bell in their Carabao Cup encounter against Walsall. The Robins were defeated by the League Two side with a scoreline of 1-0, marking an unimpressive start to Skubala's managerial tenure at Aston Gate.
Skubala stated that his decision was driven by the need to assess Yu Hirakawa and Emil Riis in action:
"I needed to use this game to see Emil and Yu," said Skubala. "If I didn't see them in this game, and I had the opportunity to see them, I wouldn't have seen them in a match through the whole of pre-season.
While the defeat is disappointing, Skubala expressed that he has gained valuable insights from his first competitive match:
"I've learned a lot today," reflected Skubala. "I've learned a lot about different players in different moments. Pre-season is great, but this feels like a step up for the guys.
Despite the loss, Skubala remains optimistic and acknowledges that the experience will be beneficial moving forward:
"We're disappointed to lose the game, and we shouldn't lose the game. But I've learned a lot about the players tonight."
Bristol City's next challenge is set for next weekend when they face Millwall in their Championship campaign.
