Sheffield Wednesday had a huge week last week, taking four points from two home games against Leicester City and Blackburn Rovers.
Few at Sheffield Wednesday would’ve predicted that they’d go unbeaten in games against leaders Leicester City and top-six challengers Blackburn Rovers.
But after two memorable performances at Hillsborough, the Owls came out with four points and a newfound optimism in their quest for survival this season.
Danny Rohl is taking all the plaudits right now. The way he’s turned this team’s fortunes around has earned widespread plaudits, but performance coach Sascha Lense thinks credit is also due elsewhere.
Sascha Lense says players deserve some more credit
Performance coach Lense was one of several names to join Rohl’s coaching staff earlier in the season.
The 48-year-old had previously worked with Rohl at Red Bull Leipzig and also held the position of sports psychologist with the likes of Schalke 04 and Manchester United.
And speaking to The Star in a recent interview, Lense spoke about the upturn in form and the change in mood, urging fans to not forget about the players.
He said:
“It feels like a lot of people and the fans appreciate his work. It is amazing to hear the supporters singing his name, but sometimes they have maybe forgotten what the players have done in this period. I can tell you, it is really hard for players to pick up this style of football.”
Sheffield Wednesday players deserve praise too
Fans have been loudly signing Rohl’s name and rightly so.
He’s proving to be a great young coach and arguably the only hope for Sheffield Wednesday this season.
But on the pitch, it’s the players who do the job, and whilst several names were praised following the win over Blackburn Rovers in particular, more praise could be due.
The likes of Will Vaulks shone vs Blackburn, Bailey Cadamarteri, Josh Windass, and Di’Shon Bernard too, but in fairness, every player could’ve come out of that game with high praise.
Rohl has got the players all pulling in the same direction after what remains a torrid start to the season.
And names like Lense in the backroom team provide that experience that maybe Rohl hasn’t quite got yet, given his age, making for a well-rounded and effective backroom team at the club.
Up next for Sheffield Wednesday is a trip to a struggling Stoke City side this weekend, in what Rohl and his players will view as another potentially winnable game.