Chris Gunter has been impressed with the job former Manchester United and Dutch defender Jaap Stam is doing at Reading so far – admitting it will be a sad day for the Royals when the boss moves on.
He told the Reading Chronicle: ‘It’s not just impressive because it’s his first job in management. What he has done for this club is impressive at any time. To come in and have the knowledge he does about the teams and the players is really impressive.’
Adding: ‘The work he does and the staff, the information we get about the opposition and the little tweaks we have every game, has been consistent the whole way through. The consistency of training has been fantastic. He would never come and say it himself but every player would say what he’s done in such a short time is incredible.’
The time will one day come when Stam does take his leave of the Madejski Stadium as the Dutchman isn’t going to spend his entire management career with Reading is he? However, it seems Stam’s planning for next season already so it’ll not be a one-season deal?
Welsh international Gunter feels people would have taken notice of Stam’s achievements this season so could look to tempt him away – not that you can think too much of that as a player.
Gunter, 27, continued: ‘I’m sure people will be impressed by what has happened here this season. As a player you try not to think about that (Stam leaving). If that was to ever happen it wouldn’t be very good for us but until that happens you can’t think about it. I’m sure at some point in his career he can go anywhere because of the respect he has in football. He’s not going to be at Reading forever.’
Indeed, nothing lasts forever but Stam should continue his Reading stint into next season at least.
