Following the Owls’ 1-0 loss to Blackburn on Tuesday which sent them down to 12th place, Danny Röhl said that small setbacks are part of the process.
In a press conference this afternoon he said: “Before Blackburn, we were ninth. I’m not sure when was the last time Sheffield Wednesday were in this position. We have to keep going, keep working. Sometimes we have to take small setbacks and this is part of the process.
“It’s like when you train for a 100 metre sprint. The first thing that you improve goes quickly because you train well and make huge steps. But then the steps will become smaller and this is normal.”
With this in mind, the young manager discussed how he helps his players to stay positive.
He said: “The group has to come together and create our own energy which means sometimes celebrating small things like a tackle or a good pass.
“We should support each other, I think it’s our strength. I want to give them the belief and the self confidence.”
Sheffield Wednesday have been strong away from home this season, winning three of their last four away games, but Röhl said this is not down to any difference in the way the team sets up.
He said: “We have played some good teams at home, Leeds, West Brom, Norwich, Blackburn, Burnley. I think this is part of the story.
“A lot of teams know now when they come to us it’s a tough away game and this is a result of our improvement, we are less of an underdog. I think Tuesday was the first time we played the last 30 minutes against a very deep block.”
With double the points tally they had after the same number of games last season, the team has reason to feel positive as they head to Oxford United this weekend.
Röhl said: “I feel the energy today in training, everyone is lively, good, emotional, ready, with a good mindset.”
Oxford United have suffered a poor run of form, losing four in their last five games. However, Sheffield Wednesday will not take this poor form for granted.
Röhl said: “It is hard to speak in the Championship about a poor run. After 14 months in this league I can say it’s not about the league table or the run, it’s about the momentum, or the story in different games. Oxford are trying a lot of different things and we have to of course look more towards ourselves.”
