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Ebbsfleet United manager Dennis Kutrieb says he doesn’t fear for his job despite side in National League relegation zone with one win in 14 games

Ebbsfleet manager Dennis Kutrieb doesn’t feel his job is on the line despite their poor run of form.

The Fleet took just one point from home matches against Maidenhead and Oxford City this week, remaining in the National League relegation zone with just one win in 14 games.

Boss Dennis Kutrieb says it’s business as usual at Ebbsfleet. Picture: Ed Miller/EUFC
Boss Dennis Kutrieb says it’s business as usual at Ebbsfleet. Picture: Ed Miller/EUFC

That’s led some supporters to question whether Kutrieb can steer the club to safety, just six months after he guided the club to a record-breaking National League South title success.

When asked if he felt his job was under threat, Kutrieb replied: “That’s not the feeling that I got from the owner or even Damian (Irvine) as the CEO. They don’t give me the feeling that I need to be concerned about my job.

“It’s not so much about my job because you know how football is, at one point it will happen anyway.

“You go because you get an offer somewhere or you get sacked because you don’t do good enough. You need to be ready as a manager because at one point it will happen.

“But that’s something again which is out my hands and my control. That’s not the point, though, as they’ve never given me that feeling here. It’s not a one-way street, it’s always a two-way street so they see how hard we work, how hard we work on a daily basis.

“I can see it from the team and if I see someone who is not working, or someone is not bothered if we win or lose, they are the things that we need to change and get the right players in or out.

“It’s the same for a club. If they have a feeling that the gaffer is not giving everything or could do much better then maybe it will be time to do something, but I never got that feeling from the owner.

“As we’ve already spoken about before, social media is quick and easy to do it but even when I go up in the bar there are not many people who tell me how bad I am or whatever.

“It’s just for myself as my expectations are so much higher. It’s nowhere near good enough where we are at the moment. But that’s for me personally and not for anyone else, that’s just my own expectations.

“That’s why I’ve had four promotions in eight years because I never go home and say ‘well done, you’ or ‘you’re the best’ because I always look at myself first - ‘What can I do better?’ ‘What do I have to do better?’ And take it from there.

“Every manager who is honest will tell you the same, that it’s not an easy job and there is pressure because you want to win and do things right.”

Kutrieb has shuffled his squad in recent weeks in a bid to regain that winning feeling.

There’s been some positive signs - they could have easily won at Hartlepool and looked the more likely to get three points against Maidenhead in midweek - and the Fleet boss believes they can turn their season around.

“Everyone who watches our games would agree and say we’re good enough but at some point you need to turn things around and make sure you get wins,” added Kutrieb.

“You can’t get used to losing or get used to not winning as that’s a mentality thing. You don’t go home happy with a draw from Maidenhead or the game at Hartlepool - make sure you always have a chance to get a win next time.

“It was unfortunate against Maidenhead to concede that type of goal, but that’s the position we are in. They won’t go in against us in a couple of months once we’ve earned the wins and the points.

“Yes, I’m very confident because I see our team are delivering, they’re fighting and they try hard. Even on Saturday against Oxford, it was a defeat that we can’t accept.

“But even when were 2-0 down we dominated the game and had 15 box entries in the first half-hour, that’s outstanding numbers. You won’t find many clubs this season that has 15 box entries in the first 30 minutes, regardless of being one or two goals down.

“They still fought in the second half, even when we were 4-0 down. That’s the point, I can see they are still trying, they’re still on board and they listen. They try to do things right and improve so I’m very confident.”

Ebbsfleet are away to Oldham on Saturday in the National League.

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