STEVE FEENEY, COACH OF RONNIE O’SULLIVAN, EXPLAINS THEIR REUNION AHEAD OF THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP AT CRUCIBLE.
Ronnie O’Sullivan has resumed training with coach Steve Feeney in preparation for a record eighth World Championship at the Crucible in Sheffield this month. According to Feeney, there are aspects of O’Sullivan’s game that the world champion is unhappy with and believes need to be improved if he is to make more history in the sport. “We have to keep pushing boundaries,” says Feeney.
Steve Feeney, Ronnie O’Sullivan’s coach, says the seven-time world champion’s game was “not where he wanted it to be” before they reconnected.
O’Sullivan and Feeney began working together in 2018, but fell out during the Covid-19 pandemic. They resumed their collaboration shortly before Christmas.
According to Feeney, the world champion and world No. 1, who has won the Champion of Champions and Hong
Kong Masters this season, has a strong desire to win a record eighth world title, but he must first improve his game.
“I’ve seen him several times,” Feeney said to the Metro. “With Ronnie, we put a plan together when we first started and he’s now won two of the three World Championships he needs to break Stephen’s [Hendry] record, so to connect up again really just continues that process.”We worked together from 2018 to 2020, then there was the Covid break and everything. “I’ve grown as a coach; there’s more I know and can deliver, and I believe Ronnie is enjoying it as well.”He’s enjoying being introduced to shots that he would never have considered before. We must continue to push the envelope. We need to keep improving if he wants to win an eighth.
“Some people believe he can simply walk away with it, but look at the tour this season; there are far more accurate players than there used to be.” He has to go and perform.”He didn’t get the results he wanted last season, so I think this is timely, but there’s still work to be done. His game was not where he desired it to be.I also believe he was inspired by Mark [Williams’] continued good results.”
As he prepares to face the world’s best players, O’Sullivan will need to focus and work hard, according to Feeney.
“Ronnie takes it in his own stride,” he went on to say. “Some people say he’ll win when he wants, maybe that’s right, but I think he focuses when he wants.”He can take his foot off the gas when he needs to and then put it back on when he needs to concentrate.
