Steven Schumacher exclusive: The Bolton boss faces off against Graham Alexander and why reaching Wembley could mean everything | Football news

Bolton Wanderers have carried the weight of expectation on themselves for several years now.

This is a big club – having averaged over 21,000 people for three seasons now; one with dreams of eventually returning to the Premier League, where they have spent 13 seasons in total.

But it’s also a club that has been in Sky Bet League One for five seasons now – the longest stay in the third tier in the club’s history.

Two play-off campaigns ended in disappointment. In 2022/23, they were beaten by Barnsley in the semi-finals, and in 2023/24 they reached the final at Wembley, where they were beaten by Oxford.

Steven Schumacher was absent from both, but he will be remembered for the many times in recent history when his side play in the crucial second leg against Bradford on Thursday night, live. Sky Sports Football.

Bolton lead 1-0 in this match, thanks to a great strike from Brighton loanee Amario Cozier-Duberry.

Thursday 14 May 7:30pm

It will start at 8:00 pm

“I knew what was expected before I arrived because of the size of the team,” he said Sky Sports.

“The team we believe is bigger than this division, but this division is not easy to get out of.

“The expectation and the need to reach the Championship is there and when you are inside the building and you feel the atmosphere when you win games, when you lose games, you can feel that this is a club that is eager to go to the next level.

“If you look at the size of both Bolton and Bradford and how well supported they are, both clubs are probably too big to be in League One. But that’s where both clubs find themselves and one of us has to find a way out if we can.”

Schumacher, fortunately, made his name at Bradford between 2004 and 2007 after leaving the youth set-up at Everton.

“It’s a really good club and I enjoyed my time there. It was great and it got me into the Football League – but that’s all in the back of my mind, if I’m honest,” he said.

“They are a team that we know came to the play-offs with good momentum and were in the top six for most of the season.

“They deserve a lot of credit and we’ve had four good games against them this season and I’m sure there will be another good game to come. We know we have to stay focused all the time if we’re going to get the result we need.”

There is another personal link for the 42-year-old to the game – Bradford boss Graham Alexander was his manager at Fleetwood between 2013 and 2015.

The pair, who have been on good terms for 11 years, will no doubt share a drink after the game on Thursday, as they have already done this season.

“I try to take a little bit from every manager I’ve worked under and one or the biggest thing I took from Graham is how organized he is,” added Schumacher.

“I always remember, when I went into training, everything was always planned, everything was organized and organized. There was a reason why we did certain sessions and a reason why we played in a certain way, depending on the opposition we were going to face.

“The information he gave was really good, very detailed and I tried to apply it in my management work.

“You try to take as much as you can from everybody, the good and bad influences you’ve had in your playing career and that’s what I took from Graham. That’s what his team looks like.”

The pair traveled to Wembley in May 2014, when Fleetwood faced Burton in the League Two play-off final.

Schumacher was named among the substitutes that day and did not enter the field.

But Alexander’s men prevailed, gaining promotion to League One for the first time in their history.

“Promotion was the main thing. You have to put your pride aside. The manager has a tough call to make.

“When Graham left me in the starting XI, obviously I was disappointed and I had to sit on the bench, but you have to try to be as good a partner as you can, try to have a positive impact on the team.

“You’re not going to be happy sitting there and I tried to explain this to my players – it’s not an easy role. I probably didn’t understand that when it happened to me, but now I do.

“But there Sarce [Antoni Sarcevic] hit the winner and we won that game, the feeling was unbelievable.”

This time only one will do.

“It would mean everything to get to Wembley,” he added.

“When I first had an interview to look for a job, that’s why I was very eager to come to this club because of the ability it has. The goal was clear, to try to get into the Championship and then when we get to the Championship, we will have the space to grow and go further and intervene in that category.

“It would mean everything to complete the first step in what will be an exciting journey for this club over the next few years.”

Are you looking beyond that?

“You have to visualize. That’s the only way these ideas can happen. If you don’t believe you can do it, that can have a negative effect.

“But my focus can’t be too far away from the next game, as usual, which is difficult. That’s where my mind will be right now.”

The current lead is slim, but in the race for the final, Schumacher is currently in the driver’s seat.

Watch the Sky Bet League One semi-final second leg between Bradford and Bolton at Valley Parade live on Sky Sports Football from 7.30pm on Thursday; starts at 8pm.