Gabriel Sara has revealed that an everything-on-the-table meeting was key in Norwich City's Championship play-off qualification.
The Canaries slipped as low as 17th in the second-division standings in November last year, with huge sections of the fan base calling for head coach David Wagner to be sacked and promotion looking extremely unlikely.
They managed to turn things around, however, remaining unbeaten at home for the rest of the campaign to set up a semi-final clash with Leeds United.
Sara says one honest discussion behind closed doors helped turn thing around, with the club's squad growing closer as a result.
"When we had the bad run, of course everyone had their doubts," he said. "We heard ‘the manager is going to get sacked’, but everyone was feeling like: ‘We’re not a bad team, the boss is not a bad manager, so what’s really happening?’
"We stopped, we had a meeting and the boss said: ‘I take responsibility, you guys take responsibility and we work together.’
"From there we started playing more like friends and everything started clicking. We have been through a lot of bad times, so maybe now it is time to enjoy good times together."
The Brazilian has scored 14 goals and claimed 12 assists this season, coming second in the club's fan-voted player of the season award as well as earning a place in the EFL's official Championship team of the season.
But he says his individual achievements won't mean anywhere near as much to him if City don't go on to win the play-offs.
"For me, everything I did this season, if we don’t manage some success, it will not be the same, as special," Sara continued in an interview with The Guardian. "We have to leave everything that has happened behind and enjoy this new challenge."
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