Sheffield Wednesday played Bundesliga side Werder Bremen in their latest pre-season on Friday.
Sheffield Wednesday played Werder Bremen in Austria on Friday, drawing the game 2-2 after playing four 30-minute quarters.
Danny Rohl‘s side have now played four pre-season friendlies; beating Alfreton Town, losing vs Brighton and then Red Bull Salzburg, and then drawing with Bremen.
Anthony Musaba and Djeidi Gassama showed their attacking prowess in the final stages to earn the Owls a comeback vs another strong opponent, with Sheffield Wednesday fans having plenty to say about Musaba and Gassama after the game.
Up next is a game vs Leganes at Hillsborough before the start of the new season on August 11th.
There’s been a big overhaul to the playing squad this summer, with nine new players having arrived.
Rohl’s existing Sheffield Wednesday first-team players will still have a big impact next season, and Rohl will want to see his team show signs of improvement too.
One player who that might apply to more than most is Pol Valentin.
Pol Valentin at Sheffield Wednesday
Valentin joined Sheffield Wednesday last summer, eventually going on to feature 36 times in the Championship.
Many argued that Valentin was Sheffield Wednesday’s most-improved player in the Championship last time round.
Under Rohl in particular, playing in a more attacking team and in a more attacking right wing-back role, Valentin eventually became a nailed-on starter for Sheffield Wednesday.
His performance against Bremen though showed that the Spaniard still has room for improvement with Sheffield Wednesday.
The Star gave 27-year-old Valentin a 5/10 rating, adding:
“Got up and down the right side for Wednesday, and did get a couple of nice balls into the box, but also gave the ball away on occasion as well.”
One player can be catalyst for Pol Valentin at Sheffield Wednesday
Valentin had the right-back position locked down last season, largely because of a lack of competition in that position.
But Sheffield Wednesday have since signed Yan Valery from Angers and so Valentin now has fresh competition for his starting spot at Hillsborough.
Valery looks like a very exciting signing; he’s an attacking minded full-back who can operate as a standard full-back or as a wing-back, and he’s worked with Rohl at Southampton in the past.
Having Valery pushing him for the starting position will give Valentin added motivation, and his vast improvements last season may suggest that he can become an even better and more important player for Sheffield Wednesday next season.