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Lukas Jutkiewicz on Birmingham City's 2019/20 season and adapting to a summer of change


Birmingham striker Lukas Jutkiewicz has said that this group will adapt to a number of changes that have happened at the club this summer.

The Blues have seen popular manager Garry Monk depart after a breakdown in the relationship between Monk and chief executive Xuandong Ren.

Star striker Che Adams has also left, joining Southampton, while Jota secured a Premier League move with a £4m switch to rivals Aston Villa.

Birmingham saw a disrupted summer ahead of the 2018/19 season, with the club hit with a transfer embargo that restricted incomings.

They were then given a nine-point deduction in March for breaking the EFL's Profit & Sustainability rules.

Speaking to Sporting Life at the Sky Bet EFL season launch, Jutkiewicz said: "There's obviously been quite a bit of a turnaround with the staff, new players coming in, some of our best players going out so it's something we have to adapt to.

"We have to try and fill the void of some quality players that we've unfortunately lost. It's going to be a big change for sure but we can be proud of what we did last year with all the hurdles that were put in our way, the embargo, the points deduction.

Birmingham celebrate a Lukas Jutkiewicz goal
Birmingham celebrate a Lukas Jutkiewicz goal

"I think it was testament to the unity in the group that we overcame them and we stuck together with it."

Monk's replacement is Pep Clotet, who was a part of the coaching staff last season.

"We knew him from last season," Jutkiewicz explained. "He was mainly taking care of the set-piece responsibilities so we knew a little bit about how he works.

"He's trying to put his mark on the team and how he wants to play so it's a been a bit of a process over the six weeks of the pre-season."

The Blues forward enjoyed a strong season in 2018/19, scoring 14 and assisting a further ten.

"As a centre forward I thrive on crosses into the box," the forward explained. "I like to attack crosses, I personally favour direct play into a striker and having support runners.

"Players like Che (Adams) did to stretch the defence and allow yourself a bit more space to work with."


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