Leonid Slutsky feels Hull City could prove that the motivation and desire to improve of his youthful Hull City side can break the stereotype that experience is crucial in the Sky Bet Championship.
The Tigers endured a busy transfer window – one which has seen their squad overhauled – following their relegation from the Premier League at the end of the 2016/17 campaign.
Whilst a number of recognised and high-profile faces, including Curtis Davies and Tom Huddlestone who joined Derby County, departed, Slutsky, Hull’s Russian boss, has replaced them with a number of recruits that have added a very youthful look to the Tigers.
The additions of Michael Hector, Jackson Irvine, Nouha Dicko, Jon Toral, Stephen Kingsley, Fikayo Tomori and Ola Aina are all under the age of 25.
“My feeling is that we have a really good squad but we will understand more when all the players start to play and then I will understand how they adapt to my requirements,” Slutsky said.
“I think it is a very good, strong, interesting team. A lot of Chelsea players, Liverpool, Arsenal and young players and maybe we are breaking stereotypes about the Championship being about experienced teams and the players will be successful in this league.
“It is very difficult because I thought a little bit about other players and I thought my team would be more experienced because that is important in the Championship, but now we have a younger team than I predicted.
“But it doesn’t matter. Maybe younger players will be better and they have an unbelievable chance to improve the level in each match and they have extra motivation.”
Following Slutsky’s late splurge in the transfer market, the Tigers have a very new-look and feel about the squad ahead of this evening’s visit to Pride Park Stadium to face Derby County, kick-off: 7:45pm.
Without a win on the road this term, Slutsky is predicting another ‘very difficult’ match against a Rams side looking to bounce back from their 3-1 defeat to Sheffield United before the international break.
"I went to watch their last match against Sheffield United, and I have seen all of their other matches as well, and they are a good team," Slutsky said on Rowett’s side.
"They play with an interesting formation and have some very experienced players. Of course, they also have two of our former players with Curtis Davies and Tom Huddlestone and they have a lot of attacking quality. It will be a very difficult match.
"It is something that we can say about every team in this league, but we can also say that every team has strengths and weaknesses and we of course must look to make the most of their weaknesses."