How Paul Warne is making the most of Rotherham United's international break
Rotherham boss Paul Warne might not be enjoying the current international break in the manner he normally would, but he is determined to make use of it.
The Millers are in the middle of their second hiatus of the season and it is a welcome break, coming on the back of seven games in 22 days.
Warne's men picked up seven points from those games, but came at a cost as Clark Robertson, Shaun MacDonald and Kieran Sadlier suffered injuries that will keep them out until the new year.
Warne would normally visit his family in Norfolk during the international break but the current lockdown means that he is unable to this time.
“Sadly, because of the coronavirus lockdown, it's not an international break where I can go home and see my mum and get on the Norfolk coast for three days,” Warne said.
“The last break, I was in quarantine because of Covid. I've not had much luck.
“From a football point of view, it comes at a good time. I think it's the same for all clubs. It's incessant. You just don't get a moment to yourself.
“You recover, you prepare, you recover, you prepare.
“What the break gives us is to work with the lads and to elongate days without worrying about a game coming up. We can show them loads of stuff.
“Coaching is more difficult when there's a lot of games. The day after a match, the first team sometimes literally just have a jog and a stretch. They're exhausted.
“Then you have to get them going the next day for the next match. The break gives us a mental break.
“It gives us an opportunity to reset.
“You get to the international break and you just get some time with your thoughts to really reflect. You think where you've gone wrong. Or we might not have gone wrong.
“We might be the best we can possibly be and at this stage of the season nine points might be the best we can get.
“I think we can do better, obviously. It's all right wanting to win. It's about where the opposition allow you to. The break gives you the opportunity to breathe, to reflect and to build for the next mammoth amount of games to come.”