What did the players think of 2023/24? Here’s what they had to say...

Togetherness, progress and a collective belief that we will stride forward again next season – the themes of the post-season thoughts of members of the squad – including the captain and vice-captains – as we leave 2023/24 behind and look ahead to 2024/25.

The ups and downs of last season, Ange Postecoglou’s first at the Club and first in the Premier League, are well-documented, as we improved on 2022/23 by six points and three places to finish fifth and qualify for next season’s UEFA Europa League.

It was a season of change - Ange’s arrival, new coaching staff, new players, new playing style - and challenges - particularly injuries and suspensions - but the squad stuck together, stayed in the top five all season and secured European football again.

We've heard from Ange, here’s what the players made of it...

Heung-Min Son, captain

“Collectively, from the more regular starters to those coming on, everyone has been so supportive and has wanted to improve. I'm so appreciative of that because it has helped bring everyone together. Sometimes, when we've been in a tough moment, this group has shown that everybody is ready to play for this team and I'm really pleased to see that as captain. I really appreciate everyone that's come into the squad, even young players like Mikey Moore who has been training with the group and working really hard, it’s great to see these kinds of things. Generally, across the whole season, it's been very positive, and we've been making steps forward. Obviously, there is still room for improvement, but the overall positive energy suggests it's been a great season.”

Cuti Romero, vice-captain

“Ange has a winning mentality and has totally changed the direction of the club. When he arrived, he brought everyone together and we all have the same mental attitude and approach, we all share the same ambition to be successful and win things at this club and that is the key. We play in an entertaining style and we’re all very happy with the way the manager sets us up and plays. Of course, we’ve had ups and downs this season, a lot has happened. Let’s not forget, we have a young squad with players playing their first season in the Premier League - it’s not easy playing in this league. You don’t just settle in over two or three months, it’s tough. But it’s been a decent first season with this top manager, some inconsistencies, but overall good. I know we couldn’t quite keep the pace up to be battling for the league title, but now we need to try to keep growing and improve in order to be travelling in the proper direction. We must finish well and come back stronger next season. The young players will benefit from this first season of experience, and we’ll perform better. Next season is going to be a big one for us.”

James Maddison, vice-captain

“I would say it's been a positive season, yes. New manager, a bit of an overhaul, losing the club's best-ever player on the eve of the first game... a lot of pundits had their say on what our season would look like, and we've stayed in and around the top four, top five, and we finished eighth last year, so, it's improvement - not where we want to be - but looking back, on reflection once the season's done, we'll be able to take positives from it and build for next year.”

Micky van de Ven, OHM Player of the Season

“It’s been an unbelievable season. I’ve really enjoyed it. I enjoyed the Premier League, playing for our fans every game, they support us everywhere. Look at Sheffield United, Sheffield is far, it was last game of the season and they are there. We all really appreciate that. For myself, it’s been an unbelievable season. I’m really happy to play, really happy to be here and hopefully many more good things to come. I hope I can build from this and as a team, we can build from this also.”

Deki Kulusevski - 8 goals, 3 assists in PL in 23/24

“I had some highs this season that I will never forget. I don’t take that for granted. As a player, of course you want more, you want to score every game, to assist every game, but eight goals, that was much improved on last year, so I’ll keep working hard and try to do more next season. The team performance has been good. We improved a lot. Of course, we wanted more, and we were close to doing more, but sometimes you have to accept life, keep working and believing what you are doing. We started from zero. We changed everything. It’s not easy, but next season we start with much more experience, we know what the coach wants, so, now we go out, we rest, the players who play in the Euros and Copa America, they do that, but after we come back better and hungrier.”