Philippe Clement has insisted that Matej Jurasek must reach full fitness before taking on a major role in Norwich City’s Championship campaign.
Norwich were held to a 1-1 draw by Oxford, a result that again raised questions about late-game endurance and the physical condition of several first team players.
Clement Explains His Jurasek Decision
Clement drew attention on Tuesday night when he withdrew Matej Jurasek only minutes after introducing him. Norwich spent £6m on the winger in the summer, but repeated illness and inconsistency have stalled his impact. Clement said he appreciates the attacker’s quality, yet made clear that fitness must improve if the club are to benefit fully from his attributes.
The head coach explained that Jurasek trained in the two days leading up to the match and pushed hard to be involved, but still lacked the energy needed to affect the game both in and out of possession.
Someone wanna explain where Jurasek is?
— Jay (@jncfc26) August 16, 2025
Clement acknowledged that he has been in the job for just seven days and is still learning the squad, but said that difficult choices are unavoidable while he tries to increase standards. He stressed that the substitution was not a reflection of attitude or commitment, describing Jurasek as eager to impress. Instead, Clement underlined that the Championship demands sustained intensity and that players must reach a physical level that allows Norwich to press, transition, and finish matches with authority.
He also noted that illness disrupted Jurasek’s debut at Birmingham and that the short turnaround left him without the sharpness required. Clement accepted responsibility for using him but said the decision to replace him was necessary for the team’s balance at a crucial stage of the game.
Late Oxford Equaliser Highlights Fitness Concerns
Sporting director Ben Knapper recently questioned the squad’s physical preparation, and those concerns resurfaced when Oxford equalised in the 95th minute. Norwich had created enough chances to win but dropped deeper and deeper in the closing stages, leaving themselves exposed to a late setback. Clement said the performance showed improvements in structure and chance creation compared with the Birmingham defeat, but repeated that sharper conditioning is essential if Norwich are to control matches from start to finish.
The head coach referenced the long list of absent players and several others returning from injury who are still short of the intensity required for the full 90 minutes. He emphasised that the next few weeks will focus not only on tactical detail but on building a squad capable of sustaining the same level of football throughout the match. Clement believes that resilience, consistency, and improved transitions all stem from stronger physical foundations.
Clement said training-ground engagement has been excellent, with staff and players aligned behind the challenge of improving performances. He felt Norwich deserved victory against Oxford and created enough to secure it, but missed opportunities left the door open. His priority now is to restore confidence, increase competition for places, and ensure that players like Jurasek can contribute fully once they reach the required fitness levels.
Norwich now enter an important run of fixtures that will test their progress under Clement. The focus will remain on conditioning, intensity, and turning improved structure into results that reflect their performances.
