In the Premier League, the first day of the previous season was very gentle to bring the player from the resting state to ready. But now, everything is different, because the pre -season period is now more harsh, stressed and serious than ever.
Today, everything is measured, and not only weight: but also body components, dexa scanner and strict goals, for example, from the end of the season to the pre -season period, the player must not increase more than 1.5% of the body fat. Everything has changed, the player must frantically practice at this stage, even have to practice more, practice separately if he does not want to be considered a player who is not dedicated in the squad.
Like Man City midfielder Phillips at the 2022 World Cup, when he returned from England, his body fat rate was higher than before leaving. Coach Pep Guardiola criticized him “overweight” even though Phillips's body fat ratio was still among the top 1% of the same age as the same age.
Of course, the coaches have their own standard. At Chelsea under Antonio Conte, the players expected to have a body fat ratio from 6%to 8%, which can fluctuate around 6%. It is a huge amount of work to be done while “summer vacation”, so the player is forced to be at the peak of the day on the team.
These are the cases of “old ghosts”, the rookie wings are even more tense than that. When new, “new ghosts” really want to make a good impression, but it is important to try to read everyone in the dressing room and feel it. That is why the club culture is so important.
If appropriate, everyone will welcome the rookie from the beginning. If the rookie has that, he will be accepted immediately. At other times, people only observe and evaluate the rookie through how to play football in the first days. That is quite cruel.
Sometimes, the “old ghosts” also want to challenge the “new ghosts”. They will pass the ball a little stronger or stronger in a ball. Some of them are the cruel screen that only tries to make the most difficult possible for the rookie. But actually, what they are trying is to consider the personality of “new ghosts”.
How is the rookie of adversity? How do they act, how to react when they are put in a difficult position? It was a difficult start, but once overcome, “new ghosts” will become part of the collective.
Thierry Henry is famous for his rookie torture at Arsenal, as junior Cesc Fabregas revealed to the BBC: “Whenever a new ghost comes, we often play 5 matches 2, called Rondo. Henry always catches the rookie to play Rondo because they want to see their level and Henry will pass the ball like a rookie just to see if they can control the ball or not.”
Then there were trips before the season. With the globalization of the Premier League over the past 10-15 years, the players fully understand why they have to fly to those places and they try their best to make the most of this experience.
In fact, no one wants to move 12, 13, 14 hours and then play football under the heat of 40 degrees Celsius on a completely different field with what they will face in the season. No one wants it all, but it is part of the work and the players understand it.
There is a lot of time to rest in these trips; They will practice hard and will play some friendly matches in front of thousands of people, but they are actually practicing things that are not necessarily public, such as position training.
In terms of that, everything is still normal. The players are trying to accumulate competition experience and go to the time of the season starting, when they can compete fairly with teams in the tournament. This intensity and high concentration are the reason why the lack of a reasonable rest is a problem.
For example, Chelsea and PSG, the two teams reached the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 final. The minimum resting time between seasons is about 3 weeks. However, usually after 3 weeks will reach the pre -season, or maybe just a week before the season starts if you have to serve the national team.
But the final of the World Cup final takes place on July 13, which means that Chelsea and PSG players are only rested before the season started. They will have to enter the pre -season of tiring season and have to fight with those who have been resting for 2 months.
The rest and begins to recover mentally, physically, and emotions – anything necessary – after a stressful season brings tremendous benefits. But the players who were working hard for the national teams, the exam clubs through the summer did not have that.
Therefore, the pre -season period is the time of hope. But it is also the return of stress, pressure and emotions associated with football. More than ever, clubs with the most powerful culture and help the players overcome the transition period in the best way will reap the benefits at the end of the season.
