Steven Schumacher is looking forward to a productive week in Slovakia as Wanderers step up their pre-season preparations.
The Whites jetted off today (Monday) with Schumacher leading a full first-team squad into Europe for a training camp which concludes with Friday night’s opening warm-up game against DAC 1904.
It’s new territory for Wanderers after Schumacher spent his first pre-season as head coach in Spain 12 months ago as he plotted a promotion-winning campaign.
And the boss is looking to make the most of the build-up with the start of the Whites’ Championship challenge just over a month away following a Carabao Cup opener on Saturday, 8th August.
“The pre-season trips are important to integrate new players into the group, build on fitness, start implementing some tactical work into the schedule and then get a good game at the end of it, followed by a good social where everybody bonds and gets together. I think this year going to Slovakia is something different for us. It's a new venue, but it's one I'm really looking forward to,” said Schumacher following an opening week’s work back at Lostock .
“Everybody had a good few weeks off and got a chance to recharge their batteries and get ready to go again. The players have come back in really good condition and everybody's in good spirits and it’s nice to see everyone's got a smile on their face and ready to get back to work.
“We spoke to the players on day one and said it's a shorter pre-season than usual because we went right to the (play-off) final. The first game of the season comes against Sheffield Wednesday in four weeks, so we have to be ready to step on it from day one.
“We’ve tried to get a good variety of (friendly) games, which I think is important. I've watched DAC Streda and they look like a good outfit. They’re a couple of weeks further along in their schedule and they've already had three pre-season games, so when we go and play them on their pitch that'll be a really tough test because it is our first game.
“Quite often your first game of pre-season is against a local, non-league opposition but we're playing a team who are going into the (Europa) Conference League, so it'll be a big test and we’re looking forward to that.
“Then we’ve got two League Two teams, a Premier League team (Everton) and a team who played in the Eredivisie (NAC Breda) last year, so it'll be all different things for us to think about.”
Wanderers set off for Slovakia with five new signings in place – as well as a new assistant coach in Rob Kelly – and further additions in the pipeline as they gear up for a Championship return.
Ben Davies, Akin Famewo, Luca Stephenson and David Watson were all able to report on day one, with on-loan winger Kyliane Dong joining a couple of days into pre-season to also take his place on the plane.
“I’m happy so far. We think we've signed five really good players, first and foremost. They all seem like really good lads, good characters, who have settled in well,” Schumacher told Wanderers TV.
“Some of them are at different stages of where they are at physically. Ben Davies and Luca Stephenson are working their way in gradually into the programme. Akin has started from day-one and has done every session, Kyliane took a little bit more time and David Watson has done every session as well.
“I'd say they're all at slightly different stages from a physical point of view, but by the time we get to Slovakia everyone will be at full speed, so that's really good.”
Wanderers’ fans going to Friday night’s game against DAC 1904, who finished second in the Slovakian top division last season to earn a place in the second qualifying round of the Conference League, on Friday, 17th July (KO 6.30pm) need to buy tickets in advance, which are available for €6 via the link HERE
Meanwhile, the Whites’ media team will be out with the squad in Slovakia to bring you news and interviews from inside the camp – as well as coverage of Friday night’s game – via Wanderers TV and the club’s official media channels.