Jack Spong reckons he and the under-21s are getting their own taste of the Champions League with their involvement in this season’s Premier League International Cup.
We kicked off this campaign's competition with a 2-0 win over Feyenoord, with Monaco next in our sights, as we face them at the American Express Elite Football Performance Centre on Wednesday, kick-off 7pm.
The under-21s are then back in International Cup action on Monday, when PSV Eindhoven make the trip to the south coast.
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“Some of the boys see it as a bit like Champions League games – Antef [Tsoungui] before the game against Feyenoord came into the dressing room and put the Champions League anthem on!” Spong said.
“It’s kind of the way we see it though, we’re facing the main teams in Europe and it’s the ones we’re a little bit more up for.
“The teams we’re facing are different, it feels like we’re facing proper European competition.”
Jack has worn the captain’s armband this season and believes he had a good opportunity to learn off previous teammates.
“I’ve been a part of the under-21s for a long time and I’ve worked with a lot of different captains and looked at how they all work.
“I am not a captain who moans at people, they know what I expect from them and vice-versa. I’ve enjoyed it.
“I am not a fan of having to tap the glass for the new players to sing on the first away trip though, I don’t think Marc Leonard minded when he had to do it though!”