Karl Robinson has thanked his backroom team for each playing a key role in getting United to Wembley for the play-off final against Wycombe Wanderers on Monday. It came after a penalty shoot-out victory over Portsmouth and Karl told us
“The penalties were a great example of the way everyone works so closely together. Eddie Denton and the video analysis team had all the data on Portsmouth and penalties, Gary Bloom had talked about the psychology of a penalty shoot out, we had practised them in the build up and worked on technique and Wayne Brown had worked with the keepers on penalties.
“Browny has done brilliantly for us and his energy and attention to detail is second to none. He has been a massive help to Simon Eastwood and Jack Stevens and what people maybe don’t see is him helping the younger keepers throughout the club.
“That dedication is what I see all around me. Chris Short our Head of Sports Science was sleeping on the floor at the Training Ground when there were no hotels and he and Dwayne Peasah have done everything they can to get the players fit and ready in difficult circumstances.
"Amy Cranston is physio and Head of Medical but is another who has gone beyond her usual duties with the testing system and ensuring everything is right. Everyone has adapted; Nathan Benjamin-Smith and Spike our soft tissue therapists can only spend a limited time with the players so they have to make that time count. Jasmine Campbell the nutritionist has been incredible and Jonny Edmunds the kitman has had to add ‘Head of Disinfecting’ to his long list of duties!
“Faz has seen everything in football and we all know what a brilliant man and amazing coach he is so it has been a proper team effort from everyone and I wanted to thank them publicly because it has been a long and very testing year since we set off on this journey together in Portugal.
“It has been an unforgettable season and I am so proud to have shared it with an amazing group of people.”