Phelan: We’re in a really good place

How important are training performances at this stage, when you’re looking to select the line-up for the game?
“They’re very important, to make sure the squad gels well together. We want them to have fun and enjoy what they’re doing, but it’s also about getting a feel of the tactical element because we know who our opponents are. So we can work on that in the time we have between the games and each day is relevant towards the semi-final now.”

It’s quite rare to have this much time to work on that sort of thing, isn’t it?
“Yeah,it has a little feel of pre-season in a way, when you come in and you’re experimenting a little bit, but we’re at the back end of the season, albeit that seems strange in itself when we talk about it nearly being September. But we’re here to do what we hopefully want to do and that’s to qualify for the final and take it one step further than the other semis we’ve got to this season.”

Quite a few youngsters are here in the squad – how big is this experience for them?
“It’s invaluable. They can’t replicate this back at Carrington. They’re with this group, a successful group, and it’s there for them to impress us, not only on the training ground but in and around the hotel, and show us their qualities and personalities. We’re really pleased to have them with us and all of them have joined in really well with the group.”