It was a crazy season for Andrew Crofts, who started off the campaign as under-21s head coach, before going onto take interim charge of the first team following Graham Potter's departure in September.
Our former midfielder was then appointed to Roberto De Zerbi's coaching staff and it's fair to say the Welshman is enjoying life under the Italian.
Let’s take it back to when Graham left, Crofty. You were appointed interim head coach, so how did that feel?
I’ve held lots of different positions, from being a player and captain, to being an U21 player-coach then U21 head coach, but to be appointed the first team’s interim head coach was a really proud moment. What made it even prouder for me was the way the players responded so positively, given it was a difficult period they were going through – and I have so much respect for them for that. They were such a pleasure to work with in that time and made what could have been a tough ask seem straightforward because of how good they were as a group. I already knew a couple of the players well, but to get to know them all much better and to witness their quality up close was so good and a great learning curve for me.
You were prepping for the Bournemouth away game on the Saturday, so how did you approach it?
I had to be mindful that the group were in such a good place and the turnaround to the game was so quick, that it was pretty much a case of keeping spirits high, keeping the standards high and making sure that the emotions that came with what had just happened didn’t affect the build-up to the game. Credit to the lads; as a group they faced Graham’s departure head-on, accepted it and dealt with it. They were really looking forward to the game, but The Queen’s sad passing meant the game was rightly postponed.
Did you tweak anything that week in training?
The squad was already a well-oiled machine, so they just needed a voice, someone to lead, which I did with some great help from Adam Lallana, Shannon Ruth, Nick Stanley, Jack Stern, the analysis and S&C departments and the medical staff. Lewis Dunk, as captain, and the rest of the players were also fantastic during that period. As a group, players always need clarity, so I had to make sure I was organised and planned well, with the overall aim of winning a football match. Once the Bournemouth game was postponed, it was a case of making sure that when the new appointment was made, the players were ready to impress after a number of good training sessions.
When Roberto was appointed, you were announced as first-team coach. Again, that must have been a proud moment?
A very proud moment. When Roberto came in, he was keen to appoint a British coach and the club was keen for that to be me, so aside from the gaffer, I have to thank Tony Bloom, Paul Barber and David Weir for their support and for the faith they’ve shown in me – and also the fans, for the many kind messages I received, both when I took over on an interim basis and when I stepped up permanently. For the first week, Roberto got to know me, making sure he wanted me to be a part of his coaching staff, and to be fair, we hit it off straight away.
What are your thoughts on Roberto’s approach to the game?
The identity of the club, in terms of being a possession-based team, a team that wants to excite the fans, and a team that plays an exciting brand of football, is very important. Therefore, the club appointed someone who had that philosophy while putting their own stamp on it. As much as Graham took the club forward – and we all have so much respect for him for achieving that – Roberto is different. There’s a similar style in terms of being that possession-based team, but there’s plenty of different ways of doing that, and Roberto is certainly bringing new ideas with him. He’s obviously studied the game for a long time and his previous teams have played such an exciting brand of football which we’re now seeing him implement at Brighton – and given the quality of players we’ve got, it’s only going to get better. He has a clear vision of how he sees the game, and it’s very exciting to be a part of it all.
What’s he like at close quarters?
He’s very demanding, very intense, and I love his passion for the game, but there’s a really warm side to him as well off the pitch. He really wants to connect with the players and wants to build relationships. He wants to improve everyone. On a personal level, he said to me straight away that he sees me as one of his guys. He’s brought a lot of new staff with him, but he sees me as one of them and not someone different. That was nice to hear and made me feel a part of things straight away. He’s been fantastic with me and hopefully he can see that I’m playing my part as well.
We’ve seen on MyAlbion TV that you’re really engaged in Roberto’s training sessions…
I feel a big part of it. I do lots of things around what the gaffer wants: I take different practices, I help him and the staff in terms of planning the sessions, and I’m helping to build really good relationships between the players and the coaching staff. The way Roberto delivers his sessions, his tactical awareness and his attention to detail, is outstanding – up with the best I’ve seen. I’m very fortunate to be working with him and his staff and learning every day.
As U21 coach you played a key role in bringing players through to the senior squad. Now you’ve moved up, is that pathway still going to be there?
My passion for young players will never change and even though I’m now with the first team, I’m still very committed to seeing our U21 and U18 players develop, and I’m in close contact with all the coaches at both levels. The relationship I have with Shannon Ruth [U21s head coach] will ensure that the pathway remains as smooth as possible, and I’m looking forward to seeing the next batch come through – and that’s the next challenge for Shan, who has been doing a great job since his own promotion. Sal Bibbo [academy coach] is also huge in what goes on in the younger players’ development, given he had big first-team exposure with Arsene Wenger at Arsenal, while Gary Dicker obviously has plenty of first-team experience at various levels, so he can really help and support Shan. I’m sure they will all continue to do a great job and we’ll see more players progress to the first-team squad. I’m keen to see that happen and I know Roberto and his staff feel the same way.