[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LR0ix-DxTRo[/embedyt]
Anssi Jaakkola says small changes have made a difference under Jose Gomes.
As well as a clear shift in playing philosophy on the pitch, Jaakkola says the Portuguese boss has also been making alterations around the training ground.
“There’s always changes when a new manager comes in,” said the goalkeeper.
“The new manager brings his new ideas and the way how he wants to work, even off the pitch.
“There’s a lot of small things that always change like when we’re having a meal together as players, he wants us to all sit at one table or there’s no phones allowed, so it’s small things but it’s been good.
“He’s really trying to correct the little things, not just what happens on the football pitch.
“All that contributes towards the bigger goal.”
REACTION: Gomes says victory over Forest is just the start
The mobile phone ban in the canteen follows on from card games being introduced on the journey to away games earlier this season.
And Jaakkola is in favour of the reduction of smartphone use around the training ground.
“They should bring the same rule to the changing room,” he said.
“We had never had cards on the bus really until this season. But now with John O’Shea, Sam Baldock and Sam Walker, they’ve brought the card games in so it’s been good fun.
“Instead of staring at your iPad or your phone you speak to each other.”
It has also been a few weeks of change for Jaakkola on the pitch.
As well as the arrival of Gomes, he has also been working with a new goalkeeper coach as Jorge Baptista replaced Dave Beasant.
“It’s been good,” said Jaakkola.
“We work hard. Fitness wise we’ve been working hard, all the keepers are feeling tired legs at the moment.
“It’s been quite a big change. Also the technical aspect, he’s brought in his own ideas and it’s the way the manager wants us to play so we’ve worked on that.”
He added: “(Gomes) says now it not the time for rest, we can rest in the summer.
“We knew when he came in that we needed to be ready to work hard every day and make sure we get things right, first of all on the training ground and then we can take it to the match to turn things around.”
Some fans raised their eyebrows in the summer when Jaakkola’s contract was extended until the summer of 2019, having not played since Jaap Stam’s final game in charge in March.
He began this season as third choice stopper, behind Vito Mannone and new arrival Sam Walker, but following injuries to both in the same week, Jaakkola got his chance under Paul Clement.
And the Finn has since nailed down the number one spot, starting each of the last 12 matches, including all of Gomes’ five games in charge, his best run since joining Reading in 2017.
Despite starting the season out of favour, he says he did not consider leaving the club.
“I started the pre-season as number two, but fighting with Vito,” Jaakkola explained.
“Then I got injured and only came back from injury a couple of days before the transfer window closed.
“I didn’t have time to start thinking about leaving or going somewhere else. I just needed to make sure I kept working hard and be ready when the chance came.
“I’m just focussing on each game and trying not to worry or think about my contract at the moment. There’s time for that later on.”
He added: “It’s happened the other way around where I’ve been the number one and all of a sudden I’m the number three or in the past I was number three, then suddenly I’m number two and then number one.
“It doesn’t matter what happens, you just need to always believe in yourself and keep working hard and never give up and wait for the right moment.
“When you get your chance you need to use it.”
