Calderon: We want a faster start than last season

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Our men's under-18s start their season on Saturday against Chelsea.

2024-08-16T12:00+01:00

Inigo Calderon believes the men’s under-18s can make a faster start to the campaign than last year.

Last summer the Spaniard returned to Albion to become under-18s head coach, having played for us from 2010-16.

His team kick-off their Premier League South season against Chelsea on Saturday.

“Last year was a great season in terms of learning from the coaching perspective. I learned a lot of things about the league and the group. It was always different so it was really good for me,” Inigo said.

“The idea this season was to try to speed up everything, because we know what we have to do and we saw last season that we improved a lot as the season progressed.

“So the target of this pre-season was try to do that a bit quicker than last season – it's been a bit stressful. But I know the boys have had to take a lot on, but I think it's been a good pre season.”

The 42-year-old is also benefitting from working with a number of the same players again.

“Having a group of second years as a part of the team is a really good thing. It was everything new for me and them last season. So this year half of the group already knew more or less what the staff wanted from them.

“The second years have been really important for the transition for the first years. It's just not what's happening on the pitch, sometimes off the pitch too.”

The under-18s try and play the ‘Albion way’ and Calderon is trying to implement some of Fabian Hurzeler’s ideas.

“We try to take the specific ideas of each head coach, but the general idea of Brighton is being Brighton all the time. It doesn't matter who's in charge of the first team," he added.

“This year with Fabian, I think the intensity and the counter pressing are really important. We are working on that because I believe a lot in it. It helps when you can show younger players examples of what the first team do, to reinforce what we want from them.”