Oxford United Head Coach Aaron Ramsey Reflects on Influence of Arsene Wenger

Aaron Ramsey, now in charge at Oxford United, has spoken about the profound influence that former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger had on his managerial style. Ramsey took over as head coach in June after retiring from professional football earlier this year.

Ramsey's appointment came with a unique challenge: Oxford United is currently under a temporary transfer ban due to non-compliance with the EFL's Squad Cost Management Protocol (SCMP) regulations. Despite these constraints, Ramsey has managed to secure four consecutive pre-season victories, including a notable 2-0 win over Premier League side Ipswich Town.

Wenger's Influence on Ramsey

Ramsey acknowledges Wenger as a pivotal figure in his career both as a player and now as a manager. 'Arsene was a huge part of the success that I had as a player,' he said, adding, 'I took so much from him as well, from the manager side of things.'

While Ramsey credits Wenger for shaping his management style, he also recognizes the contributions of other renowned managers during his playing career. 'But I've been very lucky and blessed to have played for some really good managers over the years, which I've taken little bits from as well,' he explained.

Managing with Confidence

Ramsey's approach on the touchline is characterized by a calm demeanor, similar to Wenger's. He describes himself as 'calm and comfortable in situations' and believes this attitude helps his players feel secure enough to express themselves on the field. 'I think that's me as a player, though,' he said. 'I've always been quite calm and comfortable in situations.'

Pre-Season Success and Future Challenges

Ramsey is optimistic about carrying forward the confidence gained from pre-season into the competitive campaign. The U's will begin their league action on August 13th against MK Dons at the Kassam Stadium, with a Carabao Cup match against League One rivals Leyton Orient scheduled for Saturday.

'Confidence is important without stepping over the line,' Ramsey stated, emphasizing the need to embrace it while maintaining discipline. 'It's that confidence which is important without stepping over the line, but we need to embrace that.'