Portsmouth boss John Mousinho addresses Nicolas Schmid form concerns amid growing criticism
The Austrian has made 66 appearances since arriving at Fratton Park in August 2024
John Mousinho admits Nicolas Schmid has not always hit the ‘really high standards’ set in his outstanding maiden Pompey season.
But the head coach is adamant the goalkeeper retains his backing - and is nearing his performance ‘peak’ once more.
In a disappointing season for the Blues, the Austrian keeper has been among those players who noticeably haven’t scaled the heights of last term.
However, the 29-year-old has attracted criticism of late following his role in goals conceded against QPR and Oxford United.
Regardless, Mousinho is unconcerned over Schmid's dip in form dip.
‘He set the bar extremely high last year’
He told The News: ‘Nico set really high standards for himself last year and, for the majority of this year, he has still hit them.
‘Obviously there’s always going to be disappointment when we concede goals. Nico is the best goalkeeper you’d like to know, always recognising whenever there is something he wants to do better or can do better - and we are always trying to work towards that.
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‘It’s very, very easy to blame when the ball goes in past the goalkeeper, but there’s a huge amount of mistakes the outfield players make as well. We have to be better as a collective to make sure we try to restrict the opposition a bit more - and yes I know Nico will want to keep improving on his performances.
‘Am I concerned about him? Not really. He set the bar extremely high last year and, as soon as you do that, people expect a certain level of performance, but it’s not always going to come.
‘People have their ups and downs in their career and I still think Niko is performing at a decent Championship level. He is just about maybe getting back to the peak he was last year.
‘We have every faith in Nico as the goalkeeper at the football club.’
Fractured his hand against Southampton
Nicolas Schmid missed 10 games earlier this season after fracturing his hand against Southampton at St Mary’s in September.
Initially Ben Killip replaced him in Pompey’s side, before summer signing Josef Bursik took over the reins, impressing in the process.
Since returning against Millwall in November, Schmid hasn’t missed a Blues match, although has been unable to a clean sheet since January’s 3-0 win over West Brom.
Mousinho added: ‘We consider every single position every week. Sometimes that position of goalkeeper seems a bit more straightforward, but we’re always making sure things are competitive.
‘I don’t want the number two, three and four keepers thinking there’s absolutely no chance of him getting in the side, but I also want the number one to know he’s got my backing.
‘If we had to make a change, like we did earlier in the season because of the injury to Nico, we also have excellent people to come in and play in that position.
‘Ben (Killip) came in and was really unlucky not to play a bit more, we went with the decision to go with Joe Bursik and he did very well in that period as well.
‘So I think we’ve got good competition for the keepers.’
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