From the Dressing Room to the Dugout- Data, Trust, and Human Connection

By Ciaran Deely

The Training Ground Guru Live Conference 2025 at Old Trafford offered another brilliant mix of perspectives — from the executive level down to the dressing room. In this blog, I want to focus on one of the most practical and relatable discussions of the event: the conversation between Phil Jones, former Manchester United and England defender, and Lee Johnson, Head Coach at Lommel SK and former professional midfielder and manager in English football.

It was an honest and grounded session — not about algorithms or dashboards, but about people, and how we bridge the gap between numbers and meaning.

Phil Jones – The Player’s View
Phil spoke candidly about what data actually means to players. It’s not enough to show a table or graph — what matters is why and what the data represents. He said players need to be taken on a journey:

“Remember that sprint in the 67th minute, when you had to make a recovery run to stop the opposition counter? That’s the data we’re talking about.”

That sense of context is everything. Phil broke down his approach to digesting information into three key areas:

- Trust: “Where is the data coming from? Is the manager involved, and does he back it?” If players don’t trust the source, they switch off immediately.
- Timing: “Straight after a 3–0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield is not the time to talk about it.” Feedback needs to come at the right moment — when emotions have settled and reflection is possible.
- Relevance: “What does the data mean? How can it help me? Will it make me better?”

He made the point that how and where the information is shared also matters — not every player wants their stats displayed publicly or discussed in front of others. The best coaches understand those nuances.

Phil also talked about the way players interact with their data today. Most are aware of both team and individual metrics, but they don’t necessarily discuss them openly as a group. Each player identifies what matters most to them — interceptions, passes completed, recovery runs — and tracks progress quietly. He gave an example from his own career: he’d compare his defensive stats across games, but always with context in mind. “If the opposition were sitting in a low block and we had most of the ball, my numbers might look different — but that doesn’t mean my performance was worse.”

That point about context hit home. Data without understanding can lead to wrong conclusions — and players feel that as much as analysts do.

Phil also reflected on the human side of relationships between coaches and players. “If that’s not good,” he said, “it doesn’t matter how good a coach you are on the grass.” Development doesn’t start with data — it starts with trust.

When asked about modern players and how they approach data, Phil smiled and admitted he’s “old school.” He spoke about the pride of representing the club, the focus on the game itself rather than noise around it. He liked a quiet dressing room — no music, no shouting — but acknowledged the new generation is different. “You have to adapt and compromise,” he said, showing respect for the changing culture of football.

Even so, when preparing for big games, he would still seek out extra information on opposition players — but not too close to matchday. “If I looked at it on the day before or the day of the game, I’d overthink it,” he said. Timing again — a theme that kept returning.

Finally, he gave an example of how to truly improve a player — say, their communication on the pitch. “First, get to know the player. Talk to him outside of football. Understand what makes him tick. Then have the conversation in an environment where he’s comfortable.” That’s where data and coaching come together — when numbers become relationships.

Lee Johnson – The Coach’s View
Lee followed with the coach’s perspective, and it complemented Phil’s perfectly. His message was simple but powerful:

“The data has to be player-led.”

He stressed that it shouldn’t feel like surveillance — it should feel like feedback, reflection, and learning. Every data point should link to the player’s Individual Development Plan (IDP), creating a two-way process rather than a top-down report.

For Lee, the challenge is to turn data into an interactive conversation. It’s not just about numbers but about feeding into a holistic understanding of each player — as both a person and a performer. He spoke about using unconditional positive regard as a foundation: even when feedback needs to be direct or critical, the relationship must stay constructive.

At times, that means using different approaches — sometimes being firm about standards or behaviour, other times using “surprise and delight” to reinforce good habits. Emotional intelligence, he said, is crucial in deciding which approach to take.

Ultimately, data has to come alive. “It’s about creating great, positive moments on the pitch,” he said — like a young player scoring his first goal. That’s when data, coaching, and sport science all connect — not as separate silos, but as one process aimed at performance and joy.

Lee also made an interesting point about keeping team goals simple — giving players a clear “North Star” to work towards. Complexity can cloud focus; simplicity keeps everyone aligned.

Shared Lessons – Trust, Timing, and Connection
What struck me listening to both Phil and Lee was how aligned they were, even from different sides of the relationship.

Phil spoke about trust, timing, and relevance — the player’s lens.
Lee spoke about emotional intelligence, clarity, and connection — the coach’s lens.

Both were really saying the same thing: data only works when it’s human.

In modern football, with the flood of analytics, tracking, and dashboards, it’s easy to forget that players are people first. The real skill — as both of them showed — lies not in collecting more information, but in communicating it better.

Closing Thoughts
Listening to Phil and Lee, what stood out was how closely their views aligned despite coming from opposite sides of the white line. Both spoke about trust, timing, and connection — the human side of performance that underpins all the data and technology around it.

It reminded me that progress in football doesn’t just come from new tools or analytics; it comes from communication, empathy, and understanding. When data starts conversations rather than ends them, that’s when it really makes a difference.