Under-21 Lead Coach Omer Riza admits the start of the season has been challenging following difficult defeats to Wigan Athletic and Hull City, but he believes there are positives to be taken from a tough period.

The 42-year-old knew that with a fledgling squad it was inevitable that more experienced sides would hold an advantage, with opponents further along their development paths.

Despite 5-0 losses at both Wigan and Hull so far in 2022/23, Riza doesn’t shirk the challenge presented and believes that this test will be important for his squad’s long-term progress, both technically and mentally.

“It has been a really challenging start to the season, and it will be really challenging for the team this year because we’re a really young squad,” Riza began.

“We had five or six first-year scholars involved against Hull City, who themselves had three or four players who had been in and around their first-team squad. That’s a challenging prospect for our players. They’re up against physical pressure and technicality.

“It will be tough and challenging, but looking at it from a positive point of view, if the team stay with it, remain positive working in training every day, it can only be beneficial to them. These are high-pressured, stressful games for our players, and over time they will start to get used to that environment.

“It’s about us trying to help them overcome this through our coaching, and by preparing them so they can deal with this adversity. We can go into the matches with a different mentality, and although we might not win all the time we can take wins in our development, deal with the physicality and different technical abilities.”

A new season presents brand-new scholars hoping to make a mark in yellow during the years to come.

With some of the first-year scholars having made the step up to the Under-21s already, Riza has been pleased with their attitude and is looking forward to following their growth over the coming months.

“It’s been really good for [the first-year scholars] to come up to the Under-21s,” he said. “Michael Adu-Poku (pictured), Jack Taylor, Alfie King and some of the second-year scholars like George Abbott have all been involved and we have been impressed.

“They have never stopped working hard, and we just need to make sure we stay at those levels even when the results aren’t going our way. Our next step will be game management, and working towards improvement. If we see that against really strong opposition, that will be seen as a success in their development.

“It will be a challenge for the players and us as coaches. For me, I woke up this morning raring to go because this is a challenge for me, and it’s something different which will be good for my own development as a coach. It’s definitely a challenge we aren’t shirking, and we will work hard going into each game with a positive mental attitude.”

This evening (Tuesday August 23), ahead of the Carabao Cup clash against MK Dons, a few Academy players have been promoted to the first-team to further their experience. Riza knows that this will be invaluable to the group and their progression as individuals.

“It’s brilliant for the Academy, and it’s brilliant for the players involved,” Riza continued. “These players are still young players within an Under-21 group, so it’s great they’re getting a chance to show what they can do at senior level.

“These boys are all getting the opportunity and it’s excellent. Just to be around the match and gain that experience from a senior matchday, that will be key to their development and when they step back into the Under-21s group.”

Next for Riza’s Under-21s are West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League Cup (Thursday September 1, 1pm), an important competition for the Academy boss.

Riza is aware of the challenge that lies ahead of his players, but is excited to see them continue to grow by focusing on the long-term vision rather than the short-term goal.

He said: “The results within the Under-21s are not important. What is important for everyone is confidence. It’s about finding the right balance to aid development, because winning breeds confidence. Of course, we want to win, but it’s not important for where we are.

“It has been difficult for the players because they want to win. They want to be competitive and win games, and when you lose it can affect your confidence. We let them know that they have to be better, but at the same time we have to help them improve as individuals and that’s what we are here for.

“They have to keep on that path, working hard in training, because that is what is really important – the day-to-day work. I will keep approaching this with a positive attitude and I will make sure that I don’t give the players an opportunity to start doubting themselves. We will keep working hard.”

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