3 min read
17th Apr 2025
James Collins is excited about the challenge of the Premier League 2 play-offs following his side’s 1-1 draw against Manchester United on Monday evening.
The Wolves under-21s head coach has also praised the development of his players and is excited to see the continuation of their journey as the season extends for at least one more game.
On the points being shared
“I thought it was a proper game. You could tell it meant something, and we needed a point to make sure we go and see the position in the play-offs, which I think with our group is a wonderful achievement.
“I’m delighted for the boys because it extends our season when you don’t want the season to end in the middle of April, to be playing friendlies for the rest of the time. Now we’ve got a chance to play in the play-offs against a really good team because we’ll play one of the top ones.”
On having a young squad and what that means
“We’ve got a really young group and you get the ups and downs of inconsistency. We’ve had moments where Southampton away, we were awful for 20 minutes and then by the end of the game, we were a better team, and I think that’s what happens with young players that they have ups and downs within the same games.
“So, for the boys to grow like they have, you know first off, I think we had four, first-year scholars playing and by the end of the game was seven scholars on the pitch. At under-21 level, in my time here, that’s unheard of.”
On player development
“It isn’t about results, it’s about developing players, it’s about making the players better – we think putting younger ones in gives them a high challenge. We know the results are going to suffer, but I’ve not been brought here to win the under-21 league; I’ve been here to make the players better.
“They’re fighting for their own careers; they’re fighting to get as far as they can. Some will get to non-league level; some will get to league level and hopefully one or two will get to Premier League level.
“Different players come through at different rates and that’s the joy of youth development and player development, they’re all different.”
On the play-offs
“The boys are excited, they’re excited about the play-offs, excited about the season extending. They know it’ll be a tough game for us, that’s what’s great for me is I will now get to see our players in another game that matters, and you find stuff out about them. You find what’s about your players when they’re playing games where the result matters, because often academy football, you’re playing a lot of games that are unimportant. So that’s a real good chance for us to develop and learn and find out about them.
“We found a little bit out and about them tonight, and then we’ll find even more about them when we play in the play-offs.”