Head Coach Paul Warne admits Derby County ‘feels like home’ as he looked ahead to celebrating two years at the helm as the Rams face Sheffield United this Sunday (3pm kick-off).
Warne led the club to promotion from League One in his second season in charge of the Rams and has overseen the club to eighth in the Sky Bet Championship after five games so far this term. The 51-year-old will manage his 400th league game as a Head Coach when Derby clash with the Blades this weekend.
The Rams have made a bright start to life back in the Championship under Warne, with a 100 per cent record at Pride Park Stadium in all competitions so far this season. The Rams will be looking to convert that home form to results on the road when they make the trip to Bramall Lane to face Sheffield United on Saturday.
Warne sat down with RamsTV to discuss his managerial milestones, give a squad fitness update and look ahead to the Rams upcoming Championship tie in South Yorkshire.
On coming up to two years as Head Coach of Derby County…
Gone really quickly, really proud to survive two years. And obviously, it's me doing the talking, but I'm speaking on behalf of the staff. But it's a testament to how hard everyone's worked at the football club, football side, media side, commercial side, everything.
It feels like the club's going in the right direction, so it's good. So, yeah, I mean, I didn't come here to get sacked, obviously, so I did come here to actually do some work. So, I've really enjoyed it, and it's nice.
The longer you're at a club, the more you know people, which helps. You're able to put a little bit more identity into your teams, as well. And that's why all managers like longevity because it makes the job easier and more comfortable, possibly. It feels like home to us now, which is great.
On his 400th game in management…
It is quite amazing to have done 400 league games. If you’d have told me after the first 10 games I managed that I'd do 400, I’d be very happy. But it is testament to my coaches and the people who keep me sane; my family and everyone around me.
I did know that figure because Tom kindly sent it to me early in the week. And I'm really proud of that. I was really proud of my playing career and loads of different things I've done in my life. But to get to 400 is really pleasing.
On Saturday’s opponent Sheffield United and Manager Chris Wilder…
When you go down from the Premier League everything's down in the dumps, but then I think when that season ends, it was a relief for them because it was a very long, tough season.
As soon as the season finishes and the dawn of the new pre-season and the window opens and you're able to manoeuvre things and move things and let some people go and do the signings that they've made, they've made brilliant signings.
The left-back, the goalkeeper, the centre-forward, the ten. These are phenomenal players. And it doesn't surprise me that they're doing so well. I love Alan Knill (Assistant Coach) and Chris Wilder. They are really good people and have done excellent throughout their career.
When they left Northampton to go to Sheffield, I played with Nilly, so I know him really well. But they had unbridled success and the fact that they've gone back and started the season so well doesn't surprise any of us in our coach's office. They've got a really good team, but they're really well-coached. And you have to have them both to have success.
And they'll no doubt have a successful season, but they're the games that we want to play in.
On needing to improve away form, and starting at Bramall Lane…
Whether we were good away last year or not, that's past now, that's history. I'd always like to look forward, and this is a game that I would love to play in. I did play at Bramall Lane a few times and it has an amazing atmosphere. It's a game that we want to perform in.
I thought we performed well at Watford but I didn't think we performed well enough in the entirety at Blackburn. But it's another good test. It's another good test to see where we're at. And we want to come away with something - that goes without saying. So, we'll have to be our very best for every minute of the game.
I've got a lot of trust in this group, and it should be a good game. I know we're taking a good following, too.