Forgotten ex-Premier League manager, 45, out to avoid relegation to League One as he says ‘adversity is in the blood’
GARRY MONK is ready to stare down adversity again with his Cambridge side needing a point to guarantee survival.
Monk bossed Swansea in the Premier League and then took charge at a series of Championship teams including Leeds and Middlesbrough.
But he spent more than three years out of football management after getting the sack at Sheffield Wednesday in November 2020.
Monk finally returned in early March as Cambridge’s head coach, tasked with preserving the club’s League One status.
They were thrashed 6-0 at Lincoln and 4-0 at Reading in his first two away games at the helm.
But he has since stabilised the U’s, who will definitely beat the drop if they draw at Port Vale tomorrow.
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Monk knows what it takes to stay up via the final fixture, having masterminded Birmingham’s 3-1 victory over Fulham in 2018.
Monk, 45, said: “Adversity’s in the blood. I kind of like adversity. I’ve faced a lot of it in my career, and as a person in my life. My mentality is always really strong with it.
“I’m looking forward to the game and the players should be looking forward to it.
";I know there’s a big, huge responsibility and an outcome that’s needed from it, but you have to enjoy these moments as well.
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Garry Monk's managerial record
Swansea: Played 77, Won 28, Drew 17, Lost 32.
Leeds: Played 53, Won 25, Drew 11, Lost 17.
Middlesbrough: Played 26, Won 12, Drew 5, Lost 9.
Birmingham: Played 59, Won 19, Drew 20, Lost 20.
Sheffield Wednesday: Played 58, Won 18, Drew 15, Lost 25.
Cambridge: Played 10, Won 2, Drawn 3, Lost 5.
“Yes I’d rather be at the other end of the table fighting, but sometimes you face these situations.
“It’s the character and belief you have in yourself and in each other that will come shining through. I’m pretty confident that will come through in the players on Saturday.”
Monk has been impressed with the spirit and determination demonstrated by the Cambridge's squad in their quest for safety.
He added: “Often in these situations, there’s a lot of fracture and discontent that you have to try and manage.
“But I feel lucky that I haven’t had to do too much of that work. It hasn’t been any of that – it’s just more an enhancement of confidence and belief.
“Even the Reading and Lincoln games, there wasn’t like you had a fractured group.
"It was just two games where we did poor, but it wasn’t for a lack of wanting to do the right thing or anything else. It was very early days and new.
“But since Reading I think they’ve done exceptionally well. They’ve shown what they’re about, showed all the ingredients that you’d want in this type of situation. One more huge effort and we can get the job done.”
Despite Cambridge’s precarious position, Monk has relished being back involved in club life.
He said: “I’ve hugely enjoyed it. I’ve had a lot of support. Not just the players and the staff, but from around. The fan base, the ownership and the directors – I’ve just had a lot of support. And that’s quite nice.
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“That’s not been at every club you have that type of support. I think when you get that kind of support, outside of just being professional, you are kind of more desperate to give them what they want, because they’re good people at the club and around the club.
“So you feel a bit more emotionally attached to what you want to give them and how important it is for everyone.”