‘I haven’t felt that’: Portsmouth boss explains surprise Derby County decision as €600,000 signing handed bow

John Mousinho felt Tuesday’s game against Derby County was the right time to hand new signing Daniel Bielica’s Championship bow in place of Nicolas Schmid.

And the head coach has detailed the conversation he had with the Austrian, who was dropped for the Rams defeat.

The 29-year-old has been an ever-present for the Blues since his July 2024 arrival, solidifying himself as Mousinho’s Championship number one.

Schmid has gone on to keep 16 clean sheets in 74 appearances in all competitions at Fratton Park, with his form earning him a new long-term deal in November 2025.

However, the former BW Linz man was dropped for Pompey’s midweek contest against Derby, with the Blues boss instead handing Bielica his first Championship start since his £600,000 summer arrival.

But the shot stopper came under fire from supporters for his involvement in the Rams opener, while his distribution also faced some criticism from the frustrated Fratton faithful.

Pompey boss explains surprise Derby County call

Speaking on the decision to make the change in goal, Mousinho felt Schmid hadn’t been at his best during the opening weeks of a challenging start to the season.

The head coach told The News: ‘I think it was one where I spoke to Nico yesterday (on Monday before the game) about how I feel when he’s at his best and I haven’t felt that he’s been quite there over the past couple of weeks.

‘I felt it was probably best for him to maybe have a little breather and just try to recapture the best of his form.

‘Obviously, we’ve got a goalkeeper of quality with Daniel waiting in the wings.’

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John Mousinho pleased with Pompey’s keeper competition

Mousinho hasn’t been afraid to show his ruthless side when making a change in goal, dropping Norris after a tough start on their Championship return in 2024.

Despite starting all 46 of Pompey’s matches on their way to the League One title the season prior, the 33-year-old was promptly replaced by Schmid just eight games into the new campaign.

With Bielica now offering fresh competition to the Austrian between the sticks, the Blues boss is pleased with the strength and depth his goalkeeping ranks now possess.

‘We’ve always had (good competition in goal).

‘I thought we had a lot of competition last year and the year before when Nico took his place ahead of Will (Norris) and that’s what we want to have.

‘We want to have a really strong department.’

Alongside Schmid and Bielica, Ben Killip remains the Blues third-choice stopper following the deadline day departure of Josef Bursik.

The 26-year-old made the drop to League One, rejoining boyhood club AFC Wimbledon on a season-long loan agreement.

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