Under-18s head coach Richard Walker says his players have ‘passed the test’ following a demanding pre-season week away in Bratislava.
Walker and his coaches put together an intense schedule for the group, which included early starts and double sessions in the heat, but he admits the players showed the discipline and willingness required to get through it. Walker has also reflected on the week as a whole, the vibe across the academy groups and the benefit of playing two friendly matches within the seven-day training camp.
On the week as a whole
“It’s gone really well. It’s familiar territory for us in terms of spending a week here last pre-season, so it’s gone really well.
“The facilities are excellent and the hotel and staff are fantastic. Most importantly, the players have been excellent in terms of their work rate and commitment in what’s been a tough week, but a mandatory week if you want to be a professional footballer and have a successful season.”
On the demanding schedule
“It’s been draining for staff, let alone the boys who have been out there running. We have challenged them physically but also psychologically.
“There have been some really early starts, big runs, big physical sessions at six o’clock in the morning on some days, late nights – all enjoyable stuff, but demanding stuff.
“They’ve passed the test in terms of showing the discipline to do it and also showing the willingness to dig deep even when they’re tired.”
Hard work, goals and saves 🔥
— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) July 20, 2024
Our under-18s training in Slovakia 👇 pic.twitter.com/DZfXZd2jXe
On what he looks for in pre-season
“Progression is always the key word in development. That progression is with the individual players technically and tactically.
“For me, this week is probably as much the psychological and physical corners most importantly, and the two very much come hand in hand.
“From a psychological point of view, that resilience but also the camaraderie amongst the group, getting to know characters and getting to bond together. That’s been really pleasing.
“The activities that the player care team have put together for the boys to enhance that has helped for sure.”
On the vibe throughout the week
“You’ve seen the spirit across the whole academy. We’ve got two groups here – under-21s and the 18s.
“But we’ve also got 14-years-olds up to 21-year-olds, so it’s a wide range of ages but they’ve all bonded really well.
“We’ve got a lot of staff out here as well and even the connections with the players become different because it’s not always in the moment, it’s around the hotel and a much more relaxed vibe. You’re speaking more on a human level than maybe you might do in a normal session back at Compton.”
James Collins and Richard Walker getting down to business with their U21 and U18 groups ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/M7H8z6Adg4
— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) July 16, 2024
On how the games add to the week
“If we’d have come out just for a training camp, I think it would’ve been fantastic but you know when you’re going into a game that it’s a chance for the players to put their homework on display.
“The boys have worked across both groups and I think it’s standard procedure now that, in the off season, the boys work hard to come back in the best possible physical shape.
“In all my time in football, pre-season’s always an opportunity for someone to just put their head above the parapet and say I’m ready now, I’ve kicked on and I’m ready for the next step whatever that may look like. That’s often down to the work they’ve done in the off season.
“The games are great. It’s a chance to start implementing certain things tactically for the season ahead.
“I also think, certainly in these first two or three games when it’s more about getting players minutes, you start seeing who the players are that are probably going to have a really good season.”
