Mario Vrancic knows he needs to improve for Norwich City – and has no doubts he will

Mario Vrancic tries his luck from distance against QPR at Carrow Road. Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images (Image: �Focus Images Limited www.focus-images.co.uk +447814 482222)

The Bosnian international midfielder delivered his best 45 minutes in a yellow shirt since his summer arrival, in the 2-0 home win over QPR in midweek.

That came after Vrancic dropped out of the starting line-up for the first time in the disappointing defeat to Sunderland just three days earlier.

“I think for sure I have to improve some things but right now, it just feels very good,” said the softly spoken City star.

“I think we can be a contender with our game. I thought my performance was OK (on Wednesday) and for sure I have to get used to a tough league.

“Of course, you get used to it if you have more minutes and I hope I will get the chance in the next game to get used to it and improve again.

“I hope I can score sometimes or pass assists like Wednesday, more often. For sure it’s a very tough league with a lot of games, very tough and aggressive defenders and I have to get used to it. But I will do it.

“Against Fulham, this was a very hard game. They played very good football and the tempo was very fast.

“Then against QPR and Sunderland, they played with more long balls and you have to go for the second ball and anticipate where it’s going to drop down. And of course the defenders were very strong and very tough.

“For sure I have to improve at it – but not only me of course, everyone. And there is not so much time to get used to it. We have to do it fast. We had six weeks in pre-season and I learned a lot of stuff in that already.”

Vrancic’s assist for Nelson Oliveira’s crucial opener was labelled “world class” by head coach Daniel Farke – and you won’t find many City fans arguing the point.

Vrancic added: “The win was very important. It feels very good now and I think there was a little bit of pressure for sure, after such a disappointing result against Sunderland. But we learned from our mistakes and we deserved it.

“I hope it changes the mood going into Saturday. We will see. I think we will have much more self-confidence than against QPR. The first 10-15 minutes, it was a very tough game.

“But after that I think we controlled it and on Saturday we will be able to play from the first minute for the whole game, I hope.”

City’s win certainly bought them some early-season room ahead of the weekend – something Aston Villa would long for given their slow start, significant expectations and huge financial outlay this summer.

“Some players play better with pressure,” added Vrancic. “I don’t know, we will see. But we can play with a lot of self-confidence there and try to get some points.

“At the end, it’s only the result that’s important. For sure, if you play better you have better chances to win a game, and on Wednesday it was a time to defend very well – not like Sunday – and in the end you deserve to win.”

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