Dan Bentley says head coach Cesar Peixoto is working the Wolves squad hard this pre-season but knows the group will benefit in the long run.
With Jose Sa yet to return from World Cup duty and Sam Johnstone currently injured, Bentley is the only senior goalkeeper at the club’s Portugal training camp and is enjoying the role of passing on his expertise to the younger stoppers.
Bentley celebrated his birthday on Monday with his Old Gold colleagues and spoke after a testing first session in the Algarve, with the group building camaraderie and a team spirit off the pitch, as well as on it.
On celebrating his birthday in Portugal
“I seem to always be away on my birthday, which is something that I've had to get used to. It's all part and parcel of the job. We did a little bit of a celebration [on Sunday] with my kids and my wife – just the normal pleasantries for a birthday, cake and a couple of presents, that kind of thing. I celebrated it a day early, if you will. I'm away from my family, but I'm obviously with a load of great people here, which is good as well.”
On day one in Portugal
“Half of the day was travelling, but obviously we're very familiar with this environment. It was more about just getting straight back in and straight to work. We're very much straight to work, we've got a week, so let's make the most of the time we've got here, to maximise exactly what the purpose is for us being here, which is gaining team spirit, getting to know each other better, building camaraderie and fitness, and learning about how we're going to play this season.”
Have a good one, @dan_bentley1! 🎈 pic.twitter.com/4Fav0pQKS3
— Wolves (@Wolves) July 13, 2026
On working with Peixoto
“It's been a tough week. They've been very intense. We've all grafted, but we've all been together and we've all done it together and we've completed it, and I feel like we're going to be better for it, so long may it continue. We want to get to know each other better, improve the camaraderie and obviously come away from here fitter and better.”
On being the only senior goalkeeper
“I have responsibility as a senior player anyway, so it's nothing too dissimilar to what I'm used to. I've got the young pup goalkeepers with me, so obviously I'm passing on my experience and know-how to them and helping them when they need little pointers and any guidance, which is again all part of my responsibility as a senior player and a senior goalkeeper. It's nothing too dissimilar to what I'm used to in terms of leadership.
“I've been in leadership groups my whole career and always been in a position where I'm happy to pass on my knowledge and experience, having played a lot of games and been around a long time at the tender age of 33. The more I can help my teammates and those around me and help people, the better. If I can pass on my knowledge and help other people, that's something I'm more than willing to do.”
On pre-season for a goalkeeper
“They're [outfield players] obviously doing a lot of running and aerobic stuff, whereas for us it's more about explosive, speed stuff, getting used to hitting the floor again, seeing how the balls move, how the balls fly and the timings, and trying to nail down techniques. There is obviously a physical element to it as well, similar in terms of structure, but different in terms of content.”
