Henrik Pedersen talks Sheffield Wednesday protests, young stars and close bonds

The Star, Sheffield

Transcript

00:00You said when you took over as manager that you weren't too bothered about Stormy Seas.

00:04Had they been more Stormy, less Stormy than what you'd hoped?

00:07It has been intensive and funny is not the right word,

00:15but intensive Storm, but still with a big clarity.

00:28I think when it's Storming, it's to find the basic in yourself and the people around you.

00:36And I really find that in this storm we have had,

00:39that we have used this storm to come closer together,

00:43to create a fantastic fundamental for the future.

00:46And this is players to players, players to coaches, coaches to staff, staff to players,

00:52I think on a lot of different levels.

00:54And so I think intensive, but a period where we have learned a lot.

01:00Yeah, you mentioned that.

01:02Obviously, because everything is so threadbare in terms of the coaching staff, the players,

01:07has it made you almost like a very close, tight-knit family?

01:11You could see it, even with the supporters after the game,

01:15that it feels like in adversity everybody is really clinging to each other.

01:20I think in general, when you have conflict or a difficult situation in life,

01:26then you can run away from it or you can face it and you can learn from it.

01:30So why do you stay in this situation?

01:32Because we can learn something and this is the perspective the players have used

01:36and the coaches have used and the staff have used.

01:38So I think the mindset first, things are difficult,

01:43then you get a new perspective for the situation,

01:46then you start to work forward and then people are positive

01:50and then you need some new experience to be tested again.

01:54How strong is the culture?

01:56Now there come a little one again.

01:57Okay, do we stay together or do we create a conflict where there come distance in the group?

02:02And all those small conflicts there has been with things from outside

02:06or then the group is coming closer and closer and closer.

02:11And so I think, yes, again, it has been a storm,

02:15but from where we have influenced,

02:18I think we have used the storm to come closer

02:20and to learn a lot about ourselves and each other in the group we have.

02:26Yeah, it's been really nice to see, you know, from an outside perspective,

02:29that element has been really, really nice.

02:32I want to ask, I know you've spoken a little bit about injuries already,

02:35but with Gabo Otogbaio, I just want to check, is Gab okay?

02:38I know he came off with a little bit of a knock the other day.

02:41Yeah, thank you. There's no problem.

02:44In terms of the youngsters,

02:46obviously a lot of the players have come in for a lot of praise,

02:49you know, all the way from the under-18s, the under-21s.

02:52But there's two guys that were in that squad against Bolton

02:55who were 16 years old.

02:56I mean, literally half the age of Liam Palmer.

02:59What was it you saw in those two?

03:02Obviously, the step up as a 16-year-old is big,

03:05even bigger than, you know, 18, 19, 20.

03:08What was it you saw from those two that you sort of thought

03:11made them ready to be part of the first team?

03:13I think sometimes you are not ready,

03:16but when you jump in the water, you will learn to swim.

03:19And for those two boys, when I have seen them in the training session,

03:24I think they are very, very interesting players.

03:28I think the two players with some really, really interesting quality,

03:35two players who is also good to be in a relation with other players.

03:39And I think it's natural when we have a situation like we have now,

03:44one thing we have to take the under-21,

03:46but of course we have to try to open the door

03:51for our biggest talent in our club

03:53so they get as many experience

03:54where they can also be a part of the first team training.

03:58And it will also be a part of the future for CFL Wednesday

04:02that we will integrate our best talent.

04:07It can be on a plus one day after game.

04:09It can be one, two days a week

04:11where they are coming and trained with us

04:13because they have to feel what is the next level

04:18because then it's much easier for them to get a clarity

04:21of what do I need to learn to be a better player

04:24and to take the next level as a player.

04:26Yeah.

04:27Yeah, I mean, it's really exciting to see that sort of group of players

04:30because, you know, for a long time

04:32people have been talking about the under-16s, under-17s.

04:34So, yeah, really exciting to see them coming through.

04:37Just a quick one.

04:38Jack Hunt, is he still around

04:39or has he stopped training with Wendy for the time being?

04:42Yeah, he's trained with us right now.

04:44Excellent, excellent.

04:45He's a good guy to have around at least.

04:46He's plenty of experience.

04:47I'm sure he's helping the young ones.

04:49He is a fantastic human

04:50and every day he do all what he can.

04:52Yeah, that's true.

04:54Fantastic.

04:54And just lastly, away from the club,

04:58away from the stresses of it all,

05:01how has it been for you in the city of Sheffield

05:03as manager of Sheffield Wednesday Football Club?

05:05Obviously, you were an assistant before,

05:06but, you know, has anything changed

05:08since you became the main man?

05:11Yes.

05:14Before, people were very positive and very friendly,

05:17but, yeah, they are very, very friendly

05:20and very, very open.

05:21And, yeah, I meet a lot of lovely people around

05:25when I go around in Sheffield or, yeah.

05:28So, it's fantastic.

05:31Yeah, no, I'm sure.

05:32Sorry, just one more I did want to ask.

05:34There are obviously protests planned for this weekend.

05:37Sheffield Wednesday fans are understandably upset,

05:40angry, worried about the future of the football club.

05:43I just wanted to get your thoughts

05:44on the protests that are planned this weekend.

05:46I understand the process.

05:48But I don't want to have any risk for the game

05:52because I have a group of players,

05:55a group of coaches who do everything that we can

05:58to be well prepared and to...

06:01We have the first home game against Stoke

06:04and we're all really, really, really looking forward

06:07to this game tomorrow.

06:08So, the last two games in Leicester and in Bolton

06:12has been fantastic.

06:14And if we can plus this many times,

06:16because now we're at home,

06:18then we can make a fantastic afternoon tomorrow.

06:21So, I really hope we can continue

06:23this development together with the fans.

06:26So, I understand them,

06:28but I don't hope it has any risk for the game.

06:31Thanks.

06:32Thanks, Arne.

06:35So, I will see you later.

06:35And...

06:36So...

06:37congratulations on how to do this.

06:38Yeah!

06:39So, I'll also do that.

06:47So, I'll thank you.

06:48So, that's all,

06:59because, I want to go on a stage,

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