Meyer to retain Butler's philosophy as Bangladesh prepares for Singapore tests

 
French coach Eric Meyer has pledged continuity rather than a wholesale overhaul as he takes temporary charge of Bangladesh's women's national football team in the absence of Peter Butler.

Appointed interim head coach for one month by the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF), Meyer faces an immediate challenge, with Bangladesh scheduled to meet Singapore in two international friendlies on 1 and 5 December.

With limited preparation time, the Frenchman intends to build on Butler's existing philosophy while making tactical adjustments to suit the circumstances and the players at his disposal.

"You cannot change everything from the beginning. I will keep Peter's philosophy, but I will adapt a little," Meyer told reporters at the BFF headquarters on Monday.

The new coach also acknowledged the strides made by Bangladesh in women's football, particularly their achievements in the SAFF Championship. However, he believes nurturing young talent must remain a priority.
"Bangladesh have made a lot of progress in women's football. Beating Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and India in the SAFF tournament was an important achievement. In Africa, too, I have seen every country trying to move forward in women's football. We must develop our young players together," he said.

Meyer also revealed that he had exchanged messages with Butler, maintaining communication with the absent coach out of respect for his work and circumstances.

Since taking charge, Meyer has spent five days studying players' profiles, match footage and statistics. However, he is keen to assess them first-hand on the training pitch before making decisions.
"I cannot get a complete picture of the players just by watching videos. I need to see them in training," he added.