Derby County manager Paul Warne is emphasizing the need for improvement from the entire Derby squad following the international break. Despite initial expectations of a high table position, the team currently sits in eighth place, trailing Portsmouth by ten points after eleven games.
Although they are leading their EFL Trophy group, having recently defeated Notts County 2-1, Warne believes there is room for progress. He expressed his concerns, stating, “Fundamentally, we’re falling short of our goals by not being in the top six where we need to be. The players must take some time to reflect during the break and return with enhanced performance standards.”
Derby’s game against Charlton on Saturday was postponed due to international call-ups, leaving their league campaign before the break with a 1-1 draw against Cheltenham. Warne pointed out the team’s missed opportunities in the game, saying, “If you miss that many chances and still win, it’s more about luck than skill. They had the potential to score many more goals, which is my only source of frustration.”
In light of this, Paul Warne is demanding that his players use the break to reflect and return in better form. He believes that rest and honest self-evaluation are essential, and he conveyed to his squad that there hasn’t been a game, except for the one against Blackpool in the cup, where they performed poorly. Warne stressed the importance of being goal-oriented, emphasizing that ball possession and numerous shots on target are irrelevant if they don’t result in goals.
He concluded by highlighting the need for ruthlessness, mutual encouragement, and elevated standards in training for both the players and himself. He believes the team is close to achieving greatness and urged them to ignore external distractions, keep their focus in-house, and work together to improve.
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