According to Hayden Carter, the Blackburn Rovers players are committed to making up for last season’s mistakes and proving themselves to the supporters.
Last season, Rovers ended just above the Championship bottom three, surviving on the final day of the season at Leicester City. It was a spectacular fall from grace, with the squad hovering around the playoffs until the beginning of December. Rovers faced relegation to League One after a mid-season collapse that ended in a change of head coach.
John Eustace, though, made the club more difficult to defeat, and they grinded out the required results, securing significant victories against Sunderland, Leeds United, and the champions.
After a complete preseason under the new head coach, the team’s playing patterns are beginning to become apparent. The current players at Rovers have profited from more time spent on the training field, even though the team has not improved quickly through transfers.
Carter disclosed that the players have discussed making sure the performance from the previous season doesn’t happen again. The entire team is committed to making amends and making things simpler for the supporters. He told The Lancashire Telegraph,
“Towards the end of last season, we were trying to stay up and we couldn’t really implement the style.”
“We were unable to practice or work on it. Ideas on the ball and how the coach wants us to work off the ball have been beneficially discussed over the preseason.
“We want to play football and win games, it feels like it’s coming along. We’re trying to be positive, everyone is looking forward to the new season.
“Everyone is keen to right some wrongs from last season. It wasn’t good enough at all from us.
“On the first day, we came in and said ‘Let’s not do that again’, it wasn’t nice for us and it certainly wasn’t nice for the fans. We’re looking forward to the new season and I hope we can do a lot better than last season.”
Rovers had not signed a summer player at the time of the interview, following the departure of Wigan. With Makhtar Gueye and Yuki Ohashi expected to arrive soon, that is now expected to change.
Carter maintains that the players have not talked about or given any attention to player recruitment. “We stay patient, we have seen the rumours online but we can’t do anything about that, we’re focusing on ourselves,” he said. “We’ll do the best we can and if nobody comes in, we’ll be ready for the first game still and give our absolute best.”
Due to a limited squad, Rovers have added to the group by using their Under-23s. Many experienced their first warm-weather training camp with the senior side for the first time during the trip to Austria.
The length and intensity of the games this past weekend increased, as Rovers played ninety minutes for the first time this summer. With ten days till the big kickoff, fitness continues to be the main focus of these games. “I think overall it was good, we put a lot of energy into it, with it being our first 90 minutes,” Carter stated.
“It’s great for our fitness and I think there was plenty of good stuff in there but also things we can work on over the next few weeks. Overall, a positive day.
“We need building back in after our weeks off. Today was all about fitness and trying to implement the gaffer’s ideas. I think it can only put us in good stead with the first game in two weeks.
“There wasn’t any time to work on his ideas on the training ground last season but pre-season has been positive. Everyone has bought into it and hopefully, we start well against Derby with a win to start the season.”
On the trip to Austria, he added: “It was positive, a lot of team bonding and some downtime where we could get to know some of the younger lads coming in.
“It was good, tough with the heat conditions but all pre-season has been useful and put us in good stead.
“I think we’ve got a few leaders and lads who can take that role as captain. We’ve seen in pre-season that it’s been passed around to see how people cope with it.
“I’m just focusing on my performance and trying to help the team. The gaffer will make a choice on the captain and everyone respects that.”
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