The Rams forward says the return of the former England boss has put the club back in the right direction.
Derby County forward Matej Vydra believes the return of Steve McClaren has firmly put the club back on the rail, following an uncertain start to the season.
Vydra told the club’s official TV channel, the Rams can be happier now looking at the league standings and that McClaren’s return has greatly benefitted their attacking players.
Having taken over the reins at the Ipro Stadium in mid-October for a second time since the dismissal of Nigel Pearson, Derby have climbed from a perilous 19th spot to ninth in the Sky Bet Championship.
In the eight games the former England national coach has been in charge, the Rams have won five outings – their last five on the bounce – and have lost just once. Vydra states his side can be far more content now, in what is a hugely competitive league.
The Czech told RamsTV: “I think now, if you look at the table, we can be a little bit happier with our position than we were a few months ago.
“This competition (Sky Bet Championship) is very hard; you can win four in a row and then lose four in a row – but we just want to keep winning. Since Steve McClaren has come in we have been scoring more goals and creating plenty of chances.
“You can see the way we play is benefitting our attacking players, for example Tom Ince has scored five goals lately.”
During his first spell as Derby boss between 2013 and 2015, McClaren guided the Rams to the Championship play-off final versus QPR in May 2014.
Having dominated the 90 minutes, McClaren’s side were caught by a last-minute sucker-punch Bobby Zamora goal which saw the Hoops promoted to the top flight.
The following season, needing just a point from their last game at Pride Park versus Reading, an out-of-sorts home side lost 2-0 to the Royals, seeing Ipswich Town take the final play-off spot.
Having been linked with the Newcastle United job, many pointed to his distraction as the reason for the club’s late season failures. McClaren was sacked on May 25 of last year.
Vydra, having made the move from Watford in August, for a club-record fee BBC Sport reported to be £8million, has scored just twice this campaign.
The Czech international however is now hoping for a run of games, ahead of his first taste of the East Midlands derby versus Nottingham Forest on Sunday lunchtime.
“I have heard it is a different game to the normal one and I am looking forward to Sunday, said Vydra. “It’s a big game.
“I haven’t played in a local derby before, this is my first one and I am hoping that our winning form can carry on.”
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