Players praised by U’s boss for their ‘brilliant attitude’
HEAD COACH HAS SEEN ‘A LOT OF GOOD THINGS’ DURING PRE-SEASON PERIOD
CAMBRIDGE United head coach Garry Monk has praised his players for their “brilliant” attitude during pre-season as his side head towards their upcoming League One campaign.
The U’s will get their season under way in less than two weeks time, with Monk’s side facing newly-promoted Stockport County away from home on the opening day on Saturday, August 10.
Monk is embarking on his first full season in charge of the U’s following his appointment in March.
The head coach has been delighted with his side’s application during pre-season to date, as they look to take his ideas on board.
He said: “We’re trying to accelerate it as quick as we can (the style of play), but those things do take time.”
“We have to show patience as a club, and we will do that, but we’re trying to put that on the pitch week after week, and it takes a lot of work.
“The players, their attitude towards it and their application’s been brilliant from day one, and we’ll just continue to work in that way.
“A lot of good things (have been shown in pre-season), as a team and individuals within it, but as always at this stage, a lot of work to do.
“We’re working very hard, and the players, their attitude towards it has been brilliant.
“When you’ve kind of got that recipe, and good lads that want to learn and want to do it, that’s always one of the hardest things to try and achieve. We’ve got that, and I’m sure that we’ll just continue to grow and progress.
“There’ll be some setbacks and things that we need to tweak, and stuff like that, but as an essence of what we’re trying to be, we’re definitely seeing the fruits of the labour so far, but there’s more to come, and that’s the journey that we’re going on.” United stepped up their preparations for the new campaign at the back end of last week, facing Braintree Town and Ebbsfleet United in friendlies on Friday and Saturday respectively.
The U’s won both games by 3-0 and 3-1 scorelines, and Monk feels his side’s improvement from the beginning of pre-season is already evident.
“That’s been the point of these two games (players getting game time),” the head coach said following Saturday’s victory.
“This is the first 90 minutes for both groups, yesterday and today, so that’s obviously the ultimate aim from a physical perspective.
“It’s very good that we managed to get that into both groups over the last two days.
“It’s similar to last night, a lot of stuff that was good, and then other bits that weren’t so good, and things to work on, but it’s to be expected if I’m honest.
“Overall, I think we can see the improvements from day one to where we are, but we’ll just continue to keep trying to progress.”
We’re definitely seeing the fruits of the labour so far, but there’s more to come.
Garry Monk
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