Calderon: I had to cool my emotions

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Charlie Hanson

2023-08-12T06:00:00Z

Inigo Calderon returned to Albion in June 2023.

Inigo Calderon has said that he had to keep his emotions in check after his first day as our men’s under-18s head coach.

The Spaniard’s team kick off their Premier League South campaign today with a home match against West Brom.

“It’s been a good pre-season, especially when we had our training camp in Spain - not because we were in Spain but I could see an improvement in the players while we were there. We are still in that process because we have only been together for a month,” Calderon said.

“I’d like to think that they have taken to me well. I believe we can have a good season but it will not be easy because we want to do it the Brighton way and it will take time. But I am really positive about what is ahead.”

While he has enjoyed his start to life as a coach here – having made 232 appearances as a player for us – he admits that he wanted to get too much across as soon as he started.

“I watched most of the games from last season before I came so I had an idea of what I was coming into. I think I arrived with too much emotion so after the first day I had to calm myself down a bit. I wanted to get a lot of messages across to the players, but I had to slow myself down a bit.

“I have to say thank you to everyone at the club and especially the academy staff for making me so welcome. I knew when I’d visited before that there was a good atmosphere and it feels good to work here.”