Jim Goodwin has insisted it is all about restoring pride and ensuring Dundee United get back into the Premiership at the first time of asking.
Everyone at Tannadice has been left licking their wounds after their season ended in relegation. Manager Goodwin has been given the chance to guide them back up from the Championship and now it is about getting them back on the rails. The United boss said: “Pride is a big word. That is something we need to restore. Everybody was hurting at how the season ended. Dundee United are one of the biggest clubs in the country with a really rich history and we let ourselves down last season, it is as simple as that.”
There is now a different pressure on United as the biggest club in the second tier and they are expected to win the title. “It is a different situation this season as opposed to last season,” Goodwin acknowledged. “This season we will be the biggest club in the league.
“We will be the big fish, if you like and there is a huge level of expectation on us to go and win the league, to bounce back at the first opportunity. The last time Dundee United were in the Championship it took four seasons to get out of it. We can’t afford for that to happen again so we have to make sure we get all those fine details sorted out quickly during this break that we have.
“Like any manager out there, we want to entertain the fans especially here at Tannadice on the nice big pitch. We really owe them and need to repay them this season for their commitment.”
There were some high-profile frees at the end of the season and Goodwin knows there could well be interest in some of their other internationalists like Aziz Behich and Dylan Levitt. Goals were an issue last season but Tony Watt has returned from a loan at St Mirren. Goodwin knows once he is fit that he could be a big player next season.
“Tony is recovering from ankle surgery so it was a disappointing end to the season for him,” he said. “He is under contract so will be part of the playing squad when he comes back.
“Tony had a brilliant season the year before last, that’s why Dundee United brought him here. Last season things didn’t pan out the way he would have liked but it’s a fresh start for everyone as far as I’m concerned.
“I want to see exactly what players are committed to the club going forward. Those who are, we want them to stay.”
United’s squad returns for pre-season training next week and Goodwin knows it will be a quick turnaround. He said: “We are all starting back at roughly the same time so most teams will have just less than a month off which is probably the shortest I can remember during my career.
“It has its positives as well as the players won’t have had too long to get out of condition, I suppose. Pre-season is tough.
“I think it is the most important time of the season because that’s where you can really hone in on the fitness levels of the players. That’s something that I have always been big on as a player and more so now as a manager.
“The physical aspect of the game is so intense now and to play in the modern-day game you have to be in good shape. So there’ll be lots of demands put on the players but the majority of the group who are here will have understood that from our short period together at the tail end of last season. It will be tough but hopefully enjoyable as well.”
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