Paul Warne says there is plenty more work to get through over the next few weeks to ensure Derby County’s players ‘shine like diamonds’ when their 2024/25 Sky Bet Championship season gets started.
Derby were 1-0 winners over Sky Bet League Two side Stockport County in a friendly at the Pinatar Arena on Friday as they prepare to bring down the curtain on their week-long training camp in Spain, with defender Sonny Bradley scoring the only goal of the game in the final minute.
The Rams' time at their Alicante base has allowed Warne and his coaching staff to get down to work with the squad and take in several training sessions in the soaring heat.
Warne spoke to RamsTV after the final whistle against the Hatters to review the workout, which consisted of three 30-minute halves, the Spain camp so far and assess pre-season to date with just three weeks to go until the new season starts.
On the game against Stockport County…
It was not a classic! It was two English teams trying to play English football in the Spanish weather, which is probably not advisable. It is what it is. I’ve said it before, I would prefer pre-season to be behind-closed-doors. That is because they aren’t really games, they are just training sessions. It is about getting metres in the lads and working on some patterns, set pieces and things like that.
I have to thank the fans that came and supported us out here. I knew how hot it was as no-one was singing! I think they, like us, were ready to get back in the shade.
We’ve been in for pre-season for three weeks now and we have three weeks to go until the season starts. There’s loads to polish and the first few weeks are always pretty basic. Slowly the rust comes off and the lads shine like diamonds! We aren’t shining just yet, but I am pleased with lots of things. It is all a gradual step and about moulding the team a bit more.
His views on the progress in pre-season…
Am I happy with the progress? The honest answer is no. The political answer is yes. We always want to get better and we get frustrated at things in games. We still need to sign some more players too. The main thing is how we are when the season starts and points are up for grabs.
What has been amazing on this training camp is that the group have bonded really well. They’ve done some great talks in the evenings and they get the non-negotiables. I have enjoyed that part of it.
It will be good to get back to Moor Farm, as always. I am superstitious and the reason we came here this year is because we did the same thing last year and got promoted. The facilities have been great and we have no complaints. We’ve been able to train, even though the heat has been tough, and got things into the lads that we’ve wanted to work on. The bonding element is essential and you need to be with your mates in the trenches. Our togetherness got us over the line last year and I am looking forward to watching the group grow as pre-season continues.
On Ebou Adams signing this week…
It is great to have him back. It has been a difficult one, but we got there in the end. Ebou is a great kid and it is nice to have him in the building. He gives us something in the middle of the park. He is a good footballer and a good man. Ebou, his wife and his little one are a big part of our family.
On ramping up the preparations for the start of the season…
The season will be here before we know it! I am looking forward to getting home and being with my family and continuing our work at Moor Farm. We’ve had some time together with the lads and the serious work starts when we get back. We are chipping away at a masterpiece at the moment and we need to get ourselves in a place where we are competitive for the first game.