Nathan Jones admitted he is excited for the start of Charlton’s Sky Bet League One play-off campaign.
The Addicks travel to Adams Park on Sunday evening to take on Wycombe Wanderers before the Chairboys visit The Valley on Thursday.
“We’re looking forward to it,” explained Jones. “This is a culmination of a lot of work, the sort of the foundations were put in place, last February, or 16 months ago. We’re starting to see the fruition of those foundations. It's been a long, tough season. We've had some highs and lows, but it's culminated in the play-off campaign and we're excited about that.”
The Addicks were without regulars Lloyd Jones, Thierry Small and Luke Berry for last weekend’s victory over Burton Albion in the last game of the regular season and when asked about team news ahead of Sunday's tie Nathan Jones said his squad was “in a stronger position than we were last week”.
He was also asked how preparations for the game were going and he responded: “Very good. We've had an extra day obviously with the game being rearranged. So we were able to plan. We haven't veered too much from what we normally do, just obviously we had to rejig it with the extra day with the game being on a Sunday. Apart from that it's just been exactly the same week.
“We want to just approach it as just another game. Obviously it isn't another game because it's a little bit more important, but it's the next game, so it's the most important. What we have to make sure is once again, we are the best version of ourselves and if we're the best version of ourselves and we do all the basics well and we do everything that we do well, then that's all I can ask for.”
The Addicks finished the season in fourth place in Sky Bet League One and Jones explained he is really pleased with the culture instilled in the squad.
He said: “You sign good human beings and you can build a culture and the culture and the environment carries you through. You look at sides that have done really, really well, I say Burnley as an example at the minute. They have the pride in clean sheets and stuff. That's what galvanized that group and got them and that's a credit to the group of players, but also the manager, the coaching staff and everyone around.
“Now we have that kind of culture here where the staff, everyone is involved, everyone has self-worth, everyone is focussed wanting it. ‘One team, one goal’ is our motto and that's so pivotal to do well because your coaching and environment is the thing that carries you through, not just your talent.”
Nathan Jones' side will be supported by a sold out away end at Adams Park on Sunday and he was full of praise for the Charlton faithful.
“They've been magnificent,” he said. “They've got a big part to play. We keep saying the same messages, but it's true, you know, they've been outstanding in all the games. They've got a big part to play in these two games. First and foremost, they have to travel like us. They have to do the journey and brave the M25 and the M40 and everything and then to play their part. And then after that we'll debrief and then we have to go again.”
Join fellow fans at The Valley on Sunday for the screening of the first leg. Click here for more information.
