Sheffield Wednesday are stronger since lockdown, believes Garry Monk

The German’s emphasis on mental strength alongside talent and conditioning as being core ingredients in his success story at Anfield is well known and are prerequisites that all aspiring sides hanker for.

After the loss of several senior players and difficult times so far in 2020, Monk’s squad are being assigned with ‘manning up’ and taking responsibility themselves in the dressing room and on the pitch – with the onus being on new leaders to emerge.

The Owls are at the start of a new journey in that regard, but Monk can detect some signs of improvement, if not necessarily with consistent results yet.

Monk said: “When I came in here, in my first eight home games we were unbeaten. We were strong, consistent and then came the drop-off.

“I have already talked about that period and how there were a lot of things that were not right.

“We used that lockdown period not just to finish the season, but put work in place to strengthen that mentality, culture and all those things. It is a massive part of any football team, that resilient side of it.

“They have come back stronger. Their resilience levels are stronger. They are not quite where they can be or where we want them to go, but we have taken a step forward in that way.

“None of it is where I want it to finish, but we have made steps forward and now we need to add to that when the season finishes.

“I have got a good idea on certain things we can work on that can help the players increase that resilience level and performance level in terms of the football we want to play.

“That also comes with recruitment and all that side of it. I cannot wait.

“I have spoken to top managers, I have been around top clubs and tried to study certain things. It is not just in football but in all sports and that accountability and responsibility is why these top teams are successful. Their mentality to take responsibility is at its highest level.”

Monk will assess the trio of Connor Wickham, Kieran Lee and Liam Palmer ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Fulham.

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