Derby County coach John Peacock has explained the club are happy with the way the squad is gelling on and off the pitch.
Derby County coach John Peacock has told the club’s official website that he feels the team’s pre-season trip to the Netherlands has created an external benefit for manager Paul Clement.
Peacock has suggested that the fact the players have spent so much time together has helped them to gel, with an eagerness for the coach to get to know the squad a bit better on an informal basis.
The comments suggest that Clement shouldn’t have too much of a problem in terms of team spirit over the next couple of weeks as the club prepare to try and get off to a good start in the Championship.
“We’re pleased with the way they’re gelling as a group, we can sense that tightness and that’s important,” he told dcfc.co.uk.
“The social side is important and when I say that I mean by interacting with people.”
“I’m looking forward to meeting the players a little more informally if you like.”
Why Clement will be delighted
The manager will be delighted with the assessment because it removes a potential problem which plagues a lot of clubs with new players.
New signings can take time to settle in and to develop friendships and working relationships with the key players at a club.
What’s probably helped in Derby’s case is the fact that the likes of Darren Bent and Tom Ince spent time on loan at the club last season, which would have created that air of familiarity for them already.
Clement should be looking to use the feeling of team spirit and unity to the club’s advantage even further, which will be important for the tense and tight situations in high pressure matches where it will be vital for Derby’s players to give that little bit extra for each other.
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