Wolves goalkeeper Daniel Bentley: “Leadership is something that comes very naturally to me”

Despite only arriving at Wolves in January, goalkeeper Daniel Bentley has already brought plenty to Julen Lopetegui’s first-team group. 

Bentley, who held the position of captain at his previous club, Bristol City, believes that leadership is something that comes naturally to him, “whether that’s offering advice, demanding more from people in training and in games, or making sure standards are high.”

“I’m an experienced lad, having played a lot of games throughout my career so far, so I feel like I’ve got a lot to offer in terms of that leadership role,” said Bentley, “and in terms of slotting into the group, it has been pretty seamless.  

“In terms of what I bring to the group, as a player first and foremost, it’s my ability as a goalkeeper, and secondly, as a leader.  

“Leadership is something that comes very naturally to me,” he said, “whether that’s offering advice, demanding more from people in training and games, or making sure standards are high.

“All those things that aren’t visible to the general public on a daily basis are all things that are natural to me.” 

After nearly two months at the Sir Jack Hayward Training Ground, Bentley believes he has “settled in really well”.

“The last month or so that I’ve been here has been fantastic, I’ve found my role in the group well too,” he said.

“I’m someone who’s senior in terms of experience and dare I say it, age, all be it at the tender age of 29!

“My family and I now live up here, so we’re all settled and I’m very happy to be here,” said Bentley.

When asked about working with goalkeeping coach Tony Roberts, and fellow keeper José Sa, Bentley said: “I left a very good coach in Pat Mountain at Bristol City, who knew my game inside out, as did I with his coaching and training methods.

“But, sometimes when you’re with someone for that amount of time it can be nice to freshen things up. 

“I’m now with a goalkeeper coach in Tony who will expect and demand slightly different things, and whose methods are also different, but he’ll bring other things out of me, with a fresh eye cast,” he said.

“He (Roberts) has been great since I’ve been here, he’s got a great eye for detail, and in terms of learning from the other keepers, I’d be ignorant to say there are things that José does that I wouldn’t say are really good and that I could think about potentially put into my game. 

“That’s not me saying I’m going to copy him,” Bentley joked, “in fact, I’m sure that if you were to ask him, he’d have a similar response.

“You can learn from any goalkeeper whether they’re old, young, experienced, or in-experienced and pick traits that may suit you to add to your game.” 

The goalkeeper has also been enjoying the leadership of Julen Lopetegui, who he called, “a very good manager”.

“I’m not going to start talking about every single method and detail he brings, but he’s very meticulous and looks into a lot of detail, whilst also being very demanding. 

"He knows what he wants, and how to bring the best out of his players, which is the most credit I can give to a manager,” said Bentley.

“For me personally, he has certainly had a positive effect on me, and from what I’ve seen and what I’d heard prior to my arrival he’s come in and has had a very big effect on other players, which is the highest accolade I think I can give him.” 

Having previously been on the end of a 3-1 defeat at Molineux, whilst at Brentford, Bentley cannot wait to stand between the sticks as a home player.

“It has an absolutely fantastic atmosphere,” he said, looking forward to getting cheered rather than booed.

“Recently we’ve had two massive results at home against Spurs and Liverpool where the atmospheres for both of those games were fantastic. 

“Even in the more disappointing games the fans have stuck with us and have been great, I’m itching to get out there, perform in front of all the fans, and show them what I can do.”