Plymouth manager Miron Muslic left players and supporters astounded as his first remarks as Wayne Rooney's replacement went viral.
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Muslic takes over as Plymouth bossPlymouth beat Brentford in FA Cup clashGives inspiring speech after matchFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Muslic was named as Plymouth boss earlier this month, signing a three-and-a-half-year deal to succeed Manchester United legend Rooney, who was sacked after leaving the Pilgrims at the bottom of the Championship standings.
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Muslic will start his tenure with Plymouth Argyle following a major bang as the Pilgrims defeated Premier League side Brentford 1-0 in the third round of the FA Cup under caretaker manager Kevin Nancekivell. Following the major victory, Plymouth posted the Austrian manager's awe-inspiring speech after taking on his first match as the Pilgrims' head coach.
WHAT MUSLIC SAID
Speaking to the squad in the dressing room after the clash against Brentford, Muslic said: "Good to be here, very good to be here. Normally, I would always address my words firstly to the team. But, this morning, I will address my first words to Nance [Kevin Nancekivell].
"Your courage, your commitment, your selflessness is an inspiration. There are moments in life and moments on the football pitch where the heat is on, the pressure is on and people just disappear, run away and hide, other people like Nance step up. That's courage, balls.
"When I saw the celebrations after the game, it was pure, it was from the heart. Not fake, pure and from the heart. Goosebumps all over my body!
"I know it has been difficult for you over the last weeks, suffering, struggling. It's part of our job. You are professional football players, it's not easy being a professional football player.
"We have to perform day in, day out, every single weekend, and we are an object. We don't have a private life, they (outsiders) can do what they want with us. They can destroy us every single day and every single game, that's why it's difficult to be a professional football player. That's why we are here, because it's hard.
"Nothing in the next weeks will be easy for us, no problem! Let's face this challenge in front of us with commitment, with heart, with togetherness, because you impressed me against Brentford.
"Going there, and delivering a performance the way you did. F*cking hell, well done. Showing this passion, this conviction, this togetherness, this will be the ingredients we need to face the challenge in front of us, no doubt. And it's going to be hard, no problem."
AFPWHAT NEXT FOR MUSLIC?
Plymouth do indeed have a very tough challenge on their hands after the start of the Championship season they suffered under Rooney. Nonetheless, Muslic has remained positive that the squad are ready to battle back from the bottom of the standings. They are only three points from safety, though, and face Oxford United next.