Paul Warne has called for an air of calm as Derby County’s 2023/24 season edges towards its conclusion.
Derby occupy the second automatic promotion spot in Sky Bet League One and sit three points ahead of Bolton Wanderers in third and six ahead of Peterborough United in fourth, although the latter do have a game in hand.
Warne fully expects the race for promotion to go to the final day of the season, when his side host Carlisle United at Pride Park Stadium, but there is a scenario where the Rams could cement second spot this weekend should they win away at Cambridge United and both Bolton and Peterborough drop points.
There are other permutations, too, but Warne isn’t expanding his energy on anything other than working with his coaching staff to prepare the side in the best possible manner for their final away game of the regular league campaign.
Warne sat down with RamsTV to preview clash with Cambridge, who themselves have plenty to play for as they look to build on the progress they’ve made under Garry Monk and preserve their status in League One for next season.
On returning to Cambridge, the scene of his first game in charge of Derby County in 2022…
I remember the day for many different reasons. I remember talking to Richie Barker the night beforehand and saying: ‘We need to get these to run!’. I knew we had good footballers here that could keep the ball, but different games take different ways to play. I think, without watching it back, we played quite well and Collo got both goals in the 2-0 win. I remember leaving the pitch feeling good after a win and a clean sheet. I do remember catching up with David Clowes and Stephen Pearce afterwards and seeing my wife as she was there, too. I felt settled in straight away.
On being one to reflect on the journey he has been on with Derby…
Not really, no. I am not that guy and I don’t think I am the type to look back. My memory isn’t great and, to be honest, I just live for the day. You have loads of good days in life, and bad ones, but how many amazing days do you have? Not many. If we are fortunate to get to where we want to be by the end of the season, it will mean the lads will give everyone an amazing day, whenever that is. When the journey does end for us at Derby, whenever that is, that will be the time to look back. In the meantime, it always feels like you’re constantly walking into the wind.
On Cambridge United, having watched them in midweek in their 1-0 loss at Bristol Rovers…
They’re a good side; every professional team is. They are very good at defending set-pieces, so they have some real strength. On attacking set-plays, they have unbelievable delivery and a real threat. Bristol Rovers were good on the night, but Cambridge were really competitive. You can think back to some of the points we’ve dropped away from home this year, like Cheltenham and Shrewsbury for example, and remember every single game is difficult. Look at Liverpool and Arsenal in the Premier League last weekend, both losing when they were expected to win. Cambridge are good at home and it is a difficult place to play at. I am expecting a difficult match.
On knowing four points would seal promotion and if that changes anything in terms of the approach…
It doesn’t change anything. I’d love to come out with a genius answer, but it doesn’t change a thing. I’ve said all season that if you average two points a game, you’ve cracked it. My experience tells me that life is a struggle and a battle. Everything worth getting in life is hard and nothing is just given to you easily. Even if we play at our absolute best at Cambridge, there is no guarantee we will win. If we do get three points, it might not be enough. I still think it will go to the final day, which can be fretful, enjoyable and exciting in equal measure. I feel there’s still a couple more pages to the book.
On experience as a manager and player teaching him anything…
Experience in life helps. As you get older, you get wiser. I’ll turn up on Saturday and be the same with the lads as I have been all season. I will be pretty calm and it is important to know there will be ebbs and flows to the game. Experience tells you not to get too excited or ahead of yourself. It doesn’t mean I not nervous or excited, I always have been and will be on matchdays, but I am not too high or too low. The players and all the staff at the club have worked so hard to get us to this position, but that is all we have done. We haven’t given ourselves anything more than a good chance. We’ve got a couple of hurdles left and, as a staff, we will be pretty calm. Our job is to make sure the players are calm and at their very best. It is also important to keep them engaged with the crowd, so they too remain calm. Experience has told me not to go on with the players with a chest-banging speech, to tell them it is the best moment of their lives and not to let it pass. We just want to keep consistent and allow the lads to perform and give themselves a chance. We might not get it, we might fall into the play-offs, so there’s no point offering a huge hit of adrenalin and then a drop in performance. We’ve been consistent before and that’s what we will be again as we try to be successful.
On the latest injury news…
Joe Ward has had a procedure on his knee. We thought initially we could get by with some injections, but it wasn’t to be. It has gone from being a small procedure to a bigger deal, so he will be out for a couple of months. He will be in during the close season doing his rehabilitation work. Max Bird has trained all week, as has Callum Elder.
