Rafas early start - Holidays cut short
Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2005 8:57 pmReport 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
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
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 