Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Röhl is aiming to emulate the playing styles of some of Europe’s elite teams, drawing inspiration from Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool and Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. Röhl, who ensured the team’s safety in a remarkable fashion last season, is now focused on incorporating these strategies into his team’s play. Since his appointment in October, the Owls have shown significant improvement, and with a full pre-season and an active transfer window, Röhl is eagerly implementing new ideas and philosophies that are sure to thrill the Wednesday supporters.
Currently, Wednesday are in Germany for their second training camp of the summer. The pre-season friendlies have been meticulously chosen to test the players, and a recent match against Red Bull Salzburg showcased the team’s commitment to a progressive passing style, even against one of Europe’s most aggressive pressing teams. Röhl expressed his excitement about the squad’s progress, emphasizing the importance of using pre-season to experiment and gain experience. He noted the valuable lessons learned from playing high-pressing teams like Red Bull Salzburg and ball-dominant teams like Brighton, which highlighted the team’s potential and areas for improvement. Röhl mentioned that the upcoming weeks will be crucial for finalizing the starting eleven as they continue to refine their strategies.
The Owls have already received praise from the Salzburg camp for successfully breaking through their first presses during their friendly match. Röhl explained that the next phase of their pre-season development will focus on quick and effective transitions across the pitch. In a detailed media briefing at the German training camp, Röhl humorously described their playing style as a blend of Klopp’s “Heavy Metal” football and the ball possession tactics of Manchester City and Brighton. He stressed the importance of adapting to the players’ strengths and continuously improving ball possession and calmness in key moments. Röhl highlighted their goal of maintaining an attacking mindset, whether through pressing or ball possession, as essential to their success.