He may be taking his Wimbledon hockey club men into Europe for the very first time, but coach Ben Marsden is still thinking much closer to home.
Wimbledon get their Euro Hockey League campaign under way on March 26 when they play Amsterdam in the Dutch capital.
It will be the club’s maiden voyage across the English Channel in a competitive capacity, and Marsden knows only too well that defeat would mean an immediate return to Blighty and an end to their Euro hopes.
However, while defeat would be disappointing, Marsden is eager to consider the bigger picture.
He said: “It’s an exciting time at the club, and it is helping us come together as a group. It’s exciting to know we’re the only hope that the UK have in Europe this season.
“That brings pressure, but we’re also realistic. We want to do as well as we can, but Europe will come and go, our focus must be first and foremost on the domestic league, and it is all about qualification again.
“It is all about looking at the bigger picture – we have to become a team that is finishing in the top four consistently, a team that goes to Europe consistently, and if we do that, then we’re learning with each step of the way.”
Wimbledon sit fourth in the MHL Premier Division after last weekend’s 4-1 win over Surbiton - featuring goals from Phillip Ball (two), Ian Sloan and Caspar Phijffer.
And while they head into the unknown in Amsterdam as the underdog, they do have some insider knowledge in their camp.
Marsden said: “There has not been a huge amount of success from British teams in the EHL, and we are viewed as the underdogs.
“They assume we will play with similar to the national team, having a high level of intensity, relying on fitness and strength and work-rate, whereas the Dutch and Germans tend to play a far more skilful style.”
He added: “But we have four Dutch players who know the Dutch way of playing – we’re ready to go.”
If Wimbledon, who have had to raise 15,000 Euros to cover costs, beat Amsterdam, they will play a Spanish side in either Real Club de Polo or Club Egara.
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