Philippe Clement stood in front of cameras at Carrow Road this week and issued a direct challenge to his Norwich City players: tune out the criticism and focus on what happens on the pitch. With the Canaries in 21st place and one point above the relegation zone, the message carries urgency.

Six defeats and a dressing room under scrutiny

Norwich have lost 10 of their last 12 Championship matches, including five on the bounce in the league. Their last league win came on 9 September, and a run of six consecutive defeats across all competitions has renewed questions about Clement's tenure.

"I don't think there can be more desire but my job is to stabilise the team, to keep everything in balance," Clement told BBC Look East. "If my desire is so big that I start to shout at the players all the time, they will not become better. That will not help."

He described the losing run as "really unlucky in several games" and insisted the squad possesses the talent to turn results around. The key, he argued, is managing games better in decisive moments rather than repeating the individual and collective mistakes that have proved costly.

Blocking out the noise

Clement's core demand of his players is focus. With supporters and pundits questioning the direction of the club, he wants the group to narrow their attention to training sessions and matchdays rather than outside commentary.

"They need to learn to focus on what they are doing here and not to listen to all the noise and people who are speaking negatively about them or putting them down," he said. "They need to be focused on the football, on what they need to do on the pitch."

His predecessor Liam Manning was dismissed last November after failing to win in 11 matches, a sequence that included eight successive home defeats. Clement stepped in and steadied the ship enough to push Norwich close to the play-offs by the end of that campaign. That revival now feels a long way off.

Fans point fingers beyond the dugout

Among supporters, opinion splits between sympathy for Clement and frustration at decisions made above him. Chris Reeve, co-host of the Talk Norwich City podcast, acknowledged that Clement's credit from last season's resurgence is "wearing off" but argued the problems run deeper than the head coach.

"This isn't all on Clement. There is a bigger picture," Reeve said.

Tulsa Lange, a season-ticket holder who watched Saturday's home defeat to Portsmouth from the front row of the South Stand, pointed specifically at sporting director Ben Knapper. "In three years, he has wasted tens of millions of pounds on players, a number of whom have failed to adapt to English football," Lange said. "The buck stops with him."

The club's ownership group, Norfolk FB Holdings, led by American businessman Mark Attanasio, has also drawn criticism. Attanasio's consortium became joint majority shareholders in April 2024 before taking full control later that year.

A managerial merry-go-round since Farke

Norwich have cycled through five permanent head coaches since Daniel Farke departed after winning back-to-back Championship titles. Dean Smith, David Wagner, Johannes Hoff Thorup, Liam Manning and now Clement have each wrestled with a squad that has repeatedly promised more than it has delivered in the second tier.

Clement has won 24 of his 48 matches since taking charge. The next chance to add to that tally arrives on Saturday, when Norwich travel to Charlton Athletic. Three points there would ease the pressure considerably; another defeat would sharpen it.

  • Norwich City: 21st in the Championship, one point above the relegation zone
  • Last league win: 9 September
  • Record under Clement: W24, from 48 matches in all competitions

The squad Clement sends out at Charlton will need to show the resilience he is demanding in public. Words offer a framework; results will be the only measure that matters.

Frequently asked

When did Norwich City last win a league game?
Norwich's last Championship win came on 9 September. They have lost five consecutive league matches since then and 10 of their last 12 in the division.
Is Philippe Clement under threat of losing his job at Norwich?
Clement's position is under pressure after six consecutive defeats across all competitions and Norwich sitting 21st in the Championship, one point above the relegation zone. Some supporters believe he retains credit from last season's revival, though patience is visibly thinning.
Who owns Norwich City and who is their sporting director?
Norwich are owned by Norfolk FB Holdings, led by American businessman Mark Attanasio, who took full control of the club in 2024. Ben Knapper serves as the club's sporting director.