Sheffield Wednesday suffered a shock defeat against Brentford in midweek.
Sheffield Wednesday head coach Carlos Carvalhal
Sheffield Wednesday head coach Carlos Carvalhal claims one or two of his players have been affected by negative comments made about them this season.
The Owls travel to Yorkshire rivals Leeds United on Saturday, with both sides tied on 58 points in sixth and fifth position respectively.
The two sides are on contrasting runs of form, with Wednesday victorious in four of their last five league matches and Leeds failing to win in three of theirs.
As such, Carvalhal is calling for positivity ahead of the game, revealing that key players have come to him this week convinced they have had poor campaigns.
“I have had one or two [players] that I talk [to] this week, people are talking so negative about them that they have the idea they are doing a bad season,” the Portuguese said at a press conference, broadcast via Wednesday’s official Facebook page, on Friday.
“Yesterday, I show image to [them] about the good things we are doing this season. And one of those players is involved in unbelievable things that we did this season, goals, assists, fantastic things that he did and he had the idea, because the people are saying that he is doing very bad, that he is doing a bad season. And he is a very important player to us.
“The environment is very important, that can be also positive, but when you look at things in a negative way you make everybody negative.”
Wednesday reached the play-off final last season and have invested heavily on new recruits this season as they look to go one better.
Though there has been no movement in terms of league position, the Owls have five more points now (58) than they did after as many matches in 2015-16.
Sheffield Wednesday players celebrate
Can Sheffield Wednesday beat Leeds United on Saturday?
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