Caley Thistle manager Richie Foran claims the Highland derby has become too friendly a rivalry and he is demanding more aggression from his players against Ross County tomorrow.
Inverness have lost both derby encounters 3-2 against the Staggies this term and are bottom of the Premiership table, four points behind the Dingwall side.
Foran feels some of the sides’ recent meetings have lacked the same intensity as those he recalls from his time as Caley Jags captain and he is urging his players to leave all friendships at home come tomorrow afternoon.
Foran said: “Have we treated this game like a derby in the past? I’m not sure. We need to be more up for the fight, more passionate – fair but a wee bit nasty at times.
“I thought we were out-muscled in the last couple of derbies and that needs to change.
“I need that from the whole squad. If it’s not in their game they need to bring it into their game, for this match, in particular.
“Over the previous couple of seasons it’s probably been one of the friendliest derbies in Europe – if not the world. We need to change that. They need to fight like they’ve never fought before in these games.
“Because we’re living in a small city, these players are bumping into each other in restaurants and coffee shops which is fine – it’s good to say hello. But as soon as that game starts, they should have no friends on that park. That’s gone out the window, no high-fives. They’ve got to be aggressive and passionate.
“They need to have the never-say-die spirit and the win at all cost attitude.”
Foran says he used to be fired up by the pre-match comments of former County manager Derek Adams and has urged his players to use any motivation they can to prepare them for tomorrow’s crucial match.
He added: “The games are probably not built up as much any more. Players and managers are very careful with what they say, they don’t want to rally the other team.
“I’m just trying to rally my team now. When Derek Adams was the manager at County he used to get us going with some of his comments. I’m trying to get my players going now.
“Derek used to get the best out of me with his comments. He would really get us going. He’d nearly do the team talks for us at times.
“We really wanted to beat them and we need to be like that now.
“Derek did a wonderful job at Ross County but he really wound the game up. He was good at that.
“He was good at getting the best out of their players and ours at times. I know I enjoyed going out there, getting on the ball, making things happen and beating them.”
