Discussing the mental side of the game with Wolves goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, who admits he struggles to disconnect after a match, whether the result was good or bad.
Mentally preparing for a game…
“I like to go through things that I will probably experience on a game day. I’ve always got the same warm-up, I always clean my gloves the night before a game and get them set out. Mentally, I just try to keep with the same routine and the same rhythms. Do everything the same every time, go out at the same time for warm-ups, same warm-up, same order of taking my kit off and putting it on. Just random stuff like that. But other than that, I’m fairly relaxed and get excited before the game starts.”
Recovering from setbacks…
“When I was younger, I probably struggled to a certain extent with setbacks, but as you get older and the more games you play and the more experience you get, it’s just one of those things that you can deal with. When you have a setback or make a mistake, it’s obviously not something that you’ve done on purpose, they just happen. If it’s during a game, I just try to wipe it and focus on the next thing, or if it’s something that keeps occurring, I’ll work on it in training.”
Staying level-headed after positives…
“I’m just that type of person anyway who, good or bad, I work hard and don’t get too high or too low. When things are good, things are obviously easier, more fun, and when you have to get your head down and work, you have to do that without getting frustrated. You can’t get too high when the times are good because in football, times change very quick and it can soon turn very low, so I just try to not go to the extremes of either.”
Beginning match preparations…
“Once a game’s finished, I’ll always go through my clips, go through the game to see things I might not have seen during the game or to look at the things we could work on, keep doing the same or work on, and from probably Tuesday, you’re thinking what you need to do to prepare physically and mentally for the game at the weekend. The focus starts straight away, get the work in, but towards the end of the week it ramps up more.”
Cutting off afterwards…
“I wish I could switch off straight after a game, but definitely after the game and then into the Sunday, I’m thinking about the game, good or bad. My mind probably doesn’t come off it until you start working towards the next match on the Monday or the Tuesday.”
What has changed…
“As I’ve got more experienced throughout my career, I’ve found some things easier to cope with, and other things more difficult. Like we said before, things change quickly in football and you can’t take things for granted just because you’ve got more experience. That’s the way I look at things, and I’m always looking to improve every aspect with every game that follows. Of course, experience has helped, because when you first go into League One and then the Championship, it’s new, but you get used to, then the Premier League is new but you get used to it, so experience does help, but I try not to let that control me. I still want to feel like it’s new, have adrenaline and get excited for the game.”
This article originally featured in Wolves' official 2024/25 matchday programme. Last season's programmes are still available to purchase online through retailers Curtis Sports.
