The AFC Bournemouth squad and backroom team have landed in Portugal for a ten-day training camp ahead of the 2022/23 Premier League campaign kicking off next month.
The trip will involve some warm weather training (like they needed to leave the south coast of England for that!) and two behind-closed-doors training matches, the first against League One side Sheffield Wednesday and the second against Portuguese top-tier side Braga.
The majority of the squad will be heading into their second pre-season under AFC Bournemouth head coach Scott Parker and his backroom team, with two notable exceptions, the Cherries latest signings Ryan Fredericks who joined on a free transfer from West Ham United and Joe Rothwell, another free transfer from Blackburn Rovers.
Ten more days of hard graft to come in Portugal 💪✈️ pic.twitter.com/vFhcChkwuy
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) July 11, 2022
AFC Bournemouth head coach Scott Parker told afcb.co.uk…
“…The first ten days of pre-season are always tricky because you’ve had such a long time out so you are balancing keeping players fit while also putting good work into them.
“We will start cranking it up even more in Portugal and what we’ve been doing will be more intense.
“I’m pleased with the way the players have started pre-season. When you’re planning, you want to try to get a real balance in terms of it being competitive and us being able to get in some good work.”
Touchdown in Portugal 👋 pic.twitter.com/B1roXKpdwb
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) July 11, 2022
Speaking about the two pre-season friendlies at Dean Court against Championship side Bristol City and Spanish outfit Real Sociedad, he added…
“Bristol City will be a very tough game.
“Physically, they are a good side so that will be a challenge, as we found last season at times. It will give us an indication of where we will be at that moment in time.
“Real Sociedad will be a good, technical team who will want to dominate the ball and, at times, we may have to suffer a little bit.
“But leading into the season we’re going into, it’s a good gauge for us in terms of the level and the quality we are going to be up against so it will be another good test for us.”
Your say…
Ivyhouse wrote…
Pleased to Marcondes getting off the plane. Does this mean he’s going to feature in Parker’s plans? Could be exciting. – Join the conversation, click here.
