RAISING SPIRITS BY SOCIALISING IS CENTRAL TO GERMAN’S REGIME
THE Hearts dressing room’s social convening committee are set for a busy period with Daniel Stendel in charge.
For squad bonding sessions will be central to the German coach’s plans for creating a new winning spirit within the Tynecastle group.
Barnsley’s promotion campaign for last season was launched with the help of a series of days and nights out.
There was little danger of monotonous training being a complaint levelled by players against Stendel as he kept them busy together away from the workplace.
Visits to the Total Ninja obstacle course in Manchester, go-karting, table-tennis tournaments and paintballing expeditions were among the outings.
‘We did team-bonding things at Barnsley and I think if you have a good team spirit, it helps you to be successful,’ said Stendel.
‘The players and staff spend so long together and they don’t all have to be best friends. But they do have to get on.
‘There is nothing worse than when a manager walks into a dressing room and the players all think: “Oh no, not him again”.
‘If you like to come to work, then it helps everyone. I think it is important you do things away from training and games.
‘If you have a squad of 20, they aren’t all going to be happy with the manager’s decisions. I know that. But they are all important.’
In contrast to the youthful look to the group in South Yorkshire, Stendel will seek to get veterans in his Hearts squad onside with his ideas quickly.
The majority of Stendel’s 12 summer signings at Barnsley were under 22. In his final game in charge — a 5-1 loss to Preston in early October — his back four boasted an average age of just 20.
Christophe Berra, Steven Naismith, Steven MacLean and Glenn Whelan were among the experienced heads favoured by Levein to lead his dressing room.
One of Stendel’s first tasks was to sound out the elder statesmen of the squad.
‘I spoke to some of the players on my first day, it is normal you speak to the experienced ones and try to get their thoughts on things,’ he added. ‘They have played in different leagues and for other clubs, so they have ideas. We all want what is best for Hearts.
‘We have players who are internationals and played at the top level. It is important to hear their opinions.’