Exclusive: Rob Edwards, the manager of Luton Town, discusses his efforts to fully embody the spirit of Lockyer.

Luton manager Rob Edwards has recently opened up about his emotional side following Tom Lockyer’s cardiac arrest during a Premier League match against Bournemouth. In an exclusive interview with TNT Sports, Edwards emphasized that he has been careful not to exploit Lockyer’s situation for personal gain.

Lockyer, the club captain, is now recovering at home after having an implantable cardioverter defibrillator fitted to manage his irregular heart rhythms. He has been in regular contact with his teammates and coaching staff. Since the incident, Luton has achieved back-to-back victories in the Premier League for the first time since their promotion. Wins against Newcastle and Sheffield United have left them just one point behind Everton, who are currently above the relegation zone.

Edwards received widespread praise for his handling of the aftermath of Lockyer’s medical emergency. He emotionally applauded the entire crowd at Bournemouth after the match was abandoned. Speaking to TNT Sports ahead of their upcoming game against Chelsea, Edwards admitted that his players have witnessed his vulnerability and emotions.

He stated, “The lads probably saw me crying like three times in a week – I don’t think there’s anything wrong with showing vulnerability and emotion. The players saw that we all care for each other, we always stress that when we sign a new player. I always say you’ll get respect, honesty, and time. There were a lot of emotions, the players would have seen different sides of me, different sides of the staff. We’re human beings.”

Lockyer has been in regular contact with Edwards, players, and staff at the club. The team has also expressed their determination to play for their skipper, with Edwards urging his squad to embody Lockyer’s passion for the game. Edwards revealed that he tries to text Lockyer at least once a day to check in on him, but understands that recovery is the top priority at the moment.

Reflecting on the situation, Edwards said, “It was difficult, but I didn’t want to use it in a selfish way to get points – this was a really serious situation. He’s a friend, he’s a friend to all the lads and a really important person for us as a teammate and for the football club. It was about trying to embody him and what he would want. The players have been incredible and dealt with the situation really, really well – but it’s hard to bring this group of players closer together.”

Edwards believes that his players have not always received the credit they deserve for their performances this season, although that has started to change recently. Despite securing a 3-2 victory against Sheffield United with two own goals, Luton has shown resilience by coming from behind after trailing 2-1. They have also put up strong performances against title contenders Arsenal and Manchester City, as well as earning a point against Liverpool.

Looking ahead to their match against Chelsea, Edwards acknowledged the challenge they face. He said, “We can perform really well against Chelsea and still lose – because they’ve got brilliant players, a brilliant manager, and that can happen. I can take losing against Arsenal, City, because we left everything out there and gave a good account of ourselves. We were brave, we were on the front foot. Our supporters gave the standing ovation because they could see the commitment the players gave – I can handle that, I can sleep at night then. The win, the draw, you can’t guarantee that – that’s what makes it so exciting.”