Captain Dan Bentley is keen to be the driving force both on and off the pitch for Bristol City as he tasks his fiancée with bringing the other halves together to build on the positive atmosphere created over the summer.
Not shy in admitting he usually hates pre-season, the stopper changed his tune when addressing the media on Thursday afternoon by revealing it has been one of the most enjoyable of his career due to the way it has been run, performances and the general feeling around the club.
The new signings have added to that improved culture and there does appear to be a team spirit and morale that perhaps wasn't so evident 12 months ago. Bentley says that has shown on the pitch during the off-season as the Robins finished undefeated including an impressive 1-0 victory at Bournemouth last Saturday.
"Finishing the last season the way we did after a very indifferent season, I would say I am way more confident now than I was three months ago. In terms of where I think we are at, I think we're in a much better place," Bentley said.
"In terms of pre-season this has probably been one of the favourites of my career just because of the way its run, the way we've performed as games, training has been very intense, I think you can see in the games that we're very, very fit and it's actually been enjoyable.
"Obviously it's a grind at times but it has been enjoyable. We're very confident but not overly confident. We understand there's going to be ebbs and flows but we have to manage them when it comes."
Bentley's role as captain isn't just isolated to playing 90 minutes between the sticks on a matchday. It's his responsibility to help integrate new signings to create a family feel around the club with the help of his fiancée who he has tasked with rounding the other halves of players for a bonding session.
"We've got a good honest, professional group both on the pitch and off it and in terms of atmosphere, I think it's been consistently good," Bentley added. "Pre-season we get the time to bond, go on pre-season tours and have time to build relationships both on and off the pitch with the new boys we've got and build on old relationships too.
"In terms of when each player signs I ask our player liaison manager Matt Parsons for their number to formally welcome them to the club and ask if they need anything then I'm here. A couple of them have asked various bits of the past couple of weeks and months and there's also my other half to sort out a night out for the other halves of other players.
"They are all getting together at some stage, don't ask me the date I've left her to that... I'm not saying she's the captain of the girls or anything like that but it's important that I could influence and get the girls together because obviously when they move they move their whole families usually.
"If your family life is happy then it's only going to benefit what they're doing on the pitch. If the new players can feel welcome then that can only enhance the relationships we have as individuals, and families on matchdays in the player's lounge, all of those little things can help."
Back on the pitch, there's no questioning Bentley's desire and determination to succeed this season. In the friendly against Forest Green Rovers, when the opponents scored despite being 3-0 down at the time, the keeper screamed in frustration (with a few expletives involved) that he had lost his clean sheet.
It's part of his character and Bentley admits he is a perfectionist, which taps into why Pearson was eager to make him his club captain.
He said: "I am a perfectionist but perfection is a never-ending goal. Not everything has to be perfect but obviously, I try to get as close to that as possible. That is something I try and strive for every single day in training but I also realise keeping the ball out of the net isn't perfect and football isn't perfect in terms of situations in games.
"I've got a very willing drive not to concede goals, I guess it helps to be a goalie but at the same time, it's something I do every single day. Every day I'm trying to be the best version of myself, trying to improve, trying to maximise everything I've got. Whether that's learning new things, building on things or changing things or whatever I need to do to be better I will invest time and energy in doing so."
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