Although being a number two goalkeeper comes with the frustrations of a lack of playing time, Dan Bentley understands his role at Wolves has been more about what he does on the pitch.
The 30-year-old stopper marked his first full Premier League season with the Old Gold by keeping his inaugural clean sheet in a win over Burnley back in December, in one of five appearances for Gary O’Neil’s side across both league and cup.
Having spent just 560 minutes on the pitch during the 2023/24 season, Bentley – part of the senior leadership group – has had to adapt his role at the club so he can have as much of a impact on the team behind the scenes than he does when it comes to matchday.
On his first full season at Molineux
“It’s been really good. I’ve mentioned before that there was obviously some adversity at the beginning of the season and a bit of uncertainty that we had to deal with, and I think we dealt with it really well.
“For all the predictions of where we were going to finish, we’ve obviously exceeded what the majority of people said, so proving people wrong has been a nice feeling.”
On dealing with last summer’s changes
“For me personally, I’m very adaptable and one of the things I pride myself on is how I can adapt into certain situations and not being too set into certain regiments regarding routine, because I know football can change very quickly, so being adaptable is a really important skill in football.
“Obviously, the great manager who brought me to the club moved on, but thankfully we inherited another great manager who’s done really well with us this season. I have complete respect for him and for the job he's done and the lads have bonded really well.
“It’s the same in regards to the goalie coach as well, because Tony [Roberts] brought me into the club and I had a great relationship with him, and he’s a top coach, and to replace him with another top coach was pretty seamless. ‘Cuts’ is someone who I get on with really well, so it’s all been about being able to adapt to changes, different managers, different styles, different coaches, and – all in all – I think we’ve really done that as a squad.”
Determined to keep the clean sheet! 🧤 @dan_bentley1
— Wolves (@Wolves) December 7, 2023
⚠️ @AWNetworks pic.twitter.com/SgsC0BtKwb
On being a number two goalkeeper
“For me, it’s about making sure I fulfil that obligation that I have, and that’s making a positive impact on the squad when I’m not necessarily playing.
“Obviously, it’s slightly easier to do when you’re playing because you’re on the pitch with the boys, but what I do away from the pitch on a Saturday and what I try to do in the dressing room and at the training ground every day, I’m not only trying to improve myself but improve other people as well so they’re in the best possible position to go and win a game for us on the Saturday.
“There are numerous responsibilities I believe I have, and it’s about making sure I do those to the best of my ability and not just leave them because I’m not playing.”
On stepping in for Sa
“Against Arsenal, I came on and didn’t concede and we nicked a goal at the end, so it would have been great if we’d have managed to draw that one, and then the Burnley game was my first Premier League clean sheet as well, which was a really important moment for me.
“On a personal level, being able to keep a clean sheet in the Premier League was a great achievement. But we had to be resolute in that game because we were up against a stubborn Burnley team.
“We perhaps weren’t at our best as a team that day, but it was an important win. But I would every single day and everything I do is geared towards being called upon at any moment, so I’d like to think I have been ready when called upon, and I will continue to be.”
