Jack Wilshere says the best leaders must accept they will not keep everyone happy as he looks to build a competitive culture at Luton Town, with the manager insisting players must continue to respond positively when they are left out of the team.
The Hatters boss spoke about the challenges of selection after his side beat Leicester City 2-1 at Kenilworth Road on Saturday, with substitutes Emilio Lawrence and Callum Marshall combining for the late winner as Luton secured back-to-back league victories for the first time this term.
Wilshere said maintaining good relationships with his players was important, but acknowledged that leaving individuals out was the hardest part of his job. He believes how those players react to disappointment is crucial to the standards he wants to establish and the culture he is trying to create at Luton.
“Someone once told me, ‘the best leaders understand that they’re not going to be able to keep everyone happy and not everyone’s going to like them’. I think that’s quite powerful because I’ve got a great relationship with all the players and it’s not easy,” he said.
“I say it all the time, the hardest part of my job is leaving players out. But then they’ve got a decision to make. How do they respond? When they come on the pitch, what are they going to do? We definitely got a really good response from all three that came on [against Leicester].
“There’ll be players in that [dressing room] that are really happy with the result, but also really a little bit disappointed that they didn’t play. And you can see what it takes to get into this team now and what we’re building and the fight and the desire. When you play against a good team and they play through you, everyone runs back and you get hard to beat.”
With Luton being Wilshere’s first managerial role, he admitted that understanding that challenge of leadership, when it comes to keeping his players happy, is something that he’s had to learn on the job.
“I went through that a little bit throughout my whole coaching journey. It’s a little bit different when you’re working in [under] 18s football, but it’s still there. There’s still disappointment,” he said.
“Then, obviously, I went to Norwich and saw it from the other side a little bit where your job [as a coach], your role is to get around them players to help them players stay committed. I’ve got good staff [at Luton] that are good at that as well and help me with that.
“Jake Richards, for example, he probably felt in the week that there’s a chance he’s going to play [against Leicester] and there definitely was. He was in my mind. We were thinking about it over the last few days. Do we keep a little bit of consistency? Do we try and build that relationship?
“Of course, Haks [Hakeem Odoffin] comes out of the team [injured]. Do we want to change the whole right side? All these things come into my mind. And ultimately, I’m the guy that has to look Jake in the eyes and give him a reason and it’s not always easy.
“But then Jake gets the opportunity to come on the pitch and respond and, the same with Emilio and Marshy, and that’s how they get in the team, with consistent performances from the bench. This league, this schedule, we have to make changes, and they have to be ready for that.”
Wilshere also made clear that disappointment at selection issues was acceptable, provided it did not affect a player’s contribution when called upon, as was the case for Marshall’s winner on Saturday.
He said: “Marshy needs to fight his way into the team. The same with Emilio, the same with Jake, the same with the other players on the bench and not in the squad and the ones coming back.
“It’s an environment thing. It’s a culture thing where I can accept players that are disappointed, but what you can’t accept is if players come on the pitch and they don’t help the team. We’re starting to get there with that.”
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