Mani Dieseruvwe opens up on life on and off the pitch at Pools, while previewing Saturday’s home clash against York City.
The striker, who turned 30 last week, scored twice against the Minstermen last season as Pools claimed a 2-1 home win over York in January 2024.
“They were really good memories,” Dieseruvwe stated.
“I remember it was a big game for us – there was a big attendance and Kevin Phillips had just taken over.
“It was nice to get two wins against them last season and on a personal note, grab two goals.
“When we played them back in November, it was a tough game, and we’re expecting another challenge on Saturday.
“It will definitely be a game that has a good atmosphere and some pressure attached to it, so hopefully we can feed off that hunger and get a result.”
On his own performances so far this season, Dieseruvwe reflects honestly, feeling that there’s more to come.
“It’s been difficult in stages,” he stated.
“The goals haven’t come as freely as they did last season. The most important thing for the team is winning and we haven’t done that as much as we would’ve liked.
“I’m working hard and trying my best. Over the last few games, a lot more chances have come my way so I can see where the goals are going to come from, and that gives me confidence that things will change.
“As a team, we have to take it one game at a time. We need to bring an unbelievable amount of spirit, passion and fight into Saturday’s game to be able to beat York and hopefully we can build some momentum.
“We’ve missed some great opportunities over the last few weeks, but we’re not going to give up on the play-offs until it’s mathematically impossible.”
Dieseruvwe has lined up with a number of strike partners so far this season including Luke Charman, Joe Grey and Adam Campbell.
But there’s one name in particular, Gary Madine, whose relationship goes back through the years with Mani.
“Gary has been great with me,” he explained.
“We used to golf together back when I was a scholar at Sheffield Wednesday and he was in his prime. He was a class act then and he still is now.
“He’s a great player and great person to have around the place because he gives you so much experience and the qualities that are needed to score goals. He’s scored goals at a high level, and you can see why.
“The competition for places is good between all the strikers, we push each other really hard in training. Hopefully we can use that to our advantage and score a few more goals.”
Dieseruvwe has also provided an update on his life off the pitch, unveiling his love for the North East and the people.
“I’m really enjoying living in the North East,” he added.
“I moved up to Durham last year because I wanted to be settled and closer to the Club. It’s a really welcoming area and I’m loving my time here.
“The people have been lovely to me – not just the fans, but also away from football.
“I do have a special connection with the Poolies. It feels like when I score, it’s always score in front of the Town End and I pull out a fist bump to the fans.
“They follow us up and down the country every week. For me, they are the best fans in the league by a country mile and they deserve success.”
