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Report in tonights liverpool echo 22/4 05

 
  News 




Rule out those lazy hazy days, of summer Apr 22 2005




EXCLUSIVE by Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

 




THE Liverpool squad's reward if they reach the Champions League final is the briefest summer holiday in Anfield history.

Rafa Benitez has told his players he'll expect them to report back for pre-season training on June 27.

With the European Cup final held in Istanbul on May 25, victory over Chelsea would leave just over a month off in between the end of this campaign and the beginning of stage two of Benitez's rebuilding programme.

For a number of the England stars, such as Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard, the rest will be even shorter.

They're due to participate in an energy sapping, meaningless tour of America on international duty at the start of June, unless they can acquire the same convenient doctor's note as the Manchester United contingent before boarding the plane.

Benitez's decision to rip up the traditional pre-season schedule comes as no suprise. The football obsessed manager has no time for the closed season and expects his playing staff to be chomping at the bit after their summer break.

The new strategy is a further show of intent as he stamps his authority on a club undergoing a fundamental change in culture under his command.

It's understood the Spanish boss was less than impressed with the fitness levels when he took over last July.

Many of the players he inherited were on international duty at Euro 2004 at the time, but the fringe members of the squad required an intensive physical conditioning course, which Benitez hopes to render unnecessary this summer.

By ending the closed season for his players two weeks earlier than usual, Benitez has revealed he's already meticulously planning ahead for a vast improvement next term.

The current campaign is destined to end in dramatic fashion, regardless of the destiny of Liverpool's domestic and European hopes, but Benitez insists he must always keep one eye on the future.

"We've told the players our idea is to start pre-season on June 27 at Melwood," explained the coach..

"We will spend some time there and then head for another country. We are thinking of heading to Switzerland for a training camp.

"We need to train harder at the start and change the culture of pre-season here. If we sign new players after June 27, they will have to start afresh.

"But I want all the players to show the right mentality from the very beginning of pre-season and this will make it easier for them throughout the rest of the year.

"I'm sure you will see a fitter, stronger Liverpool next seaso

[Ciggy]

Hes a cracker isnt he, they will be fuming ,its like he wont be able to cope if hes not teaching them with his 24/7 football brain bless, he will now know who wants to stay and who wants to leave after june no doubt

[BOODIDDY]

the signs are for a bright future under this manager. He could turn this club just like shankly did. He is obsessed with the game i love him. He shows the same passion as the supporters. Go on the rafalution.

[The Red Baron]

It just goes to show the commitment of the man.If you dont like it sling yer hook.

                                   VIVA BENITEZ

[JBG]

A longer pre-season doesn't necessarily mean success, otherwise every team would come back early.

Players do need a break. However, its encouraging as it shows that Benitez is eager for the challenge ahead.

[the return of HAS]

I think that as long as everyone get a month off, then that is fine. Hopefully our players will pull out of the meaningless internationals in June and take some time off.

I think it is important that he has extended time without matches to improve individual players, integrate them together and implement his totalling philosophy.

[kopite]

Most of the players have had rest anyway with their injuries . Sounds good though he wants to take this team to where it should be , on top of the world .
P.s we'll be thinking about you during your druling training while we're soakin up the sun but YNWA .

[Santa]

A longer pre-season doesn't necessarily mean success, otherwise every team would come back early.

Players do need a break. However, its encouraging as it shows that Benitez is eager for the challenge ahead.

There will be new players coming in (even the likes of Cisse, Nando, Pelle etc) and they will need the extra time to gel with the team and understanding his tactics ahead of the season kick-off. It is also to ensure that there will less time for fat@ss like Kewell to lie around in a far-away beaches, drink beer and gain the extra weight. Ideally we should be off as soon as the season kicks off. Those inital weeks when teams are struggling to play their best football hopefully will also mean the best time for us to pick up the extra points and set the pace...that is how I will interprete his decisions.

[Starbridge42]

Hopefully it will mean our players will be fitter and so will all show a bit more hunger next season.

[yckatbjywtbiastkamb]

and hopefully he wont have the upheaval of any of our better players leaving or wanting to leave as he did last summer.
the whole owen / gerrard saga must have thrown his pre season into dissarray last year, not to mention players he hardly knew personally returning late due to euro 2004.
he had to learn on the hoof, makes this season look more impressive when you think what he had to overcome.