The duo were in temporary charge for a month-and-a-half and were able to give senior debuts to academy stars Joe Hodge, Hugo Bueno and Dexter Lembikisa, which have been described by Collins as the best moments of his short stint. The under-21s head coach has also heaped praise on the first team group for their professionalism, willingness to learn and response to new ideas. And with a bit of luck, Collins has admitted that results may well have been better, but says that he’ll remember his experience in the Molineux dugout fondly and take the learning points back into his day-to-day role with the 21s.
On being given the opportunity and feeling honoured
“It’s been a real privilege. Everyone in coaching wants to coach at the highest level and to have the opportunity to coach our first team and some top international players has been a real privilege for me and Steve.
“We felt it was an honour to be given the opportunity. We didn’t know how long it was going to last – it could have been a few days, it could have been a bit longer and in the end it was somewhere in the middle.
“I’ll always remember it fondly and what a great learning experience for me in my role to go back to our boys and talk to them about the different things that happen at first team level.”
On getting into a rhythm
“I thought we got some good results and were on the wrong side of other results. From my personal point of view it’s been a great privilege and it’s been a great learning experience which is all you can ask for.
“I’ve reflected on it in the last few days. For me coming out of the Man City (under-21s) game, it was all of a sudden thrown upon us which is the way these things work.
“I have to say, probably for the first week, I didn’t feel in rhythm – it was going from one fire to the next fire. I felt that after the Chelsea game I got into a rhythm myself with the coaching, work and planning.
“Then it’s no different to what we do with the under-21s. We have the analysts, we plan properly, we play the games, we train, we have the sports science and we’re planning for the next fixture.
“The only difference is it’s more emphasis on development at the under-21s. At first team level you’re trying to win football matches, but the same amount of preparation goes into and I thoroughly enjoyed that side of it.”
On the pressure and learning experiences
“I felt from a tactical point of view, we prepared well for all the games. With a bit more luck we might have got slightly better results.
“I loved every minute of it and tried to enjoy it as much as I could. Of course there’s pressure, but you try to enjoy it. You’ve got to live the moment and enjoy it.
“I’ve learnt two things and the first thing might sound bizarre. The first team players are human beings – you see them on the telly and they’re superstar footballers, but when it comes down to it they’re good human beings.
“They want to be treated like human beings and that’s been something that I’ll definitely take from it.
“The other thing was the professionalism you have to show at first team level as a player. It’s something our boys (under-21s) do sporadically – the first team players show that professionalism day in day out on and off the pitch.”
On connecting the with first team players
“Myself and Steve are grateful to the first team players for how they responded to us and how they were with us as human beings. They want to work, they want to get better, they want to improve. Their willingness to listen and take on information from us was a fabulous feeling for us to have and something I will pass onto our boys.
“They didn’t feel like they knew it all – they wanted to learn and wanted to get better.”
On giving opportunities to academy players
“For myself, that’s the best moment and the best feeling. I’ve been in youth development all my life and to see players get on the first team pitch in the Premier League and flourish gives you the biggest buzz.
“I think the supporters get the buzz from seeing academy players come through and perform. To be able to perform they’ve got to play well.
“Hugo’s gone in and been terrific and that was a real joy to see. Hodgey in his little moments has gone on and done really well and I think the supporters like to see the style of play Hodgey gives. Chem’s had his moments and Connor Ronan got some moments.
“That was something going into the role that I felt was something we needed to do and Steve agreed.
“It was something that we’re delighted we got the opportunity to do. Now it’s up to them to see if they can sustain it and stay in and around the new gaffers plans – that’s their next challenge.”
