Pérez Focused On Foxes’ Fitness Build Up
- Leicester City have completed their first week of pre-season training at LCFC Training Ground
- A series of sessions in Seagrave signalled the start of preparations for the 2022/23 season
- Attacker Ayoze Pérez sat down with LCFC TV to assess the Foxes’ return
- The hard work put in will be of great benefit in the coming weeks, he said
Ending a short break taken following the conclusion of the last Premier League season, which saw the 28-year-old score twice against Southampton on the final day at King Power Stadium on 22 May, attention has turned to the task ahead.
Speaking inside the King Power Centre after week one of Leicester City’s training schedule, the Spaniard provided an insight into the range of activities going on behind the scenes at LCFC Training Ground to begin preparations for the 2022/23 campaign.
“It's been very good,” Pérez told LCFC TV on Friday, recapping the week’s work. "It’s always nice to go away and enjoy our time with family and friends and to disconnect a little bit from football. Now we concentrate and focus again on the new season.
“It’s been busy - plenty of sessions, hard work, it’s always tough, the first week. That’s what we need at this point, plenty of training and getting the work done. It’s still a shock to the system. Obviously, you try and keep yourself as fit as possible, keep in shape, but when you get back, it’s different.
“You train with the group and it’s a different intensity, you’ve always got that competition in the drills. You need some time for your body to adapt to that hard work, but that’s what we are doing at the minute. We are working really hard.
The former Newcastle United forward is already feeling sharper as he and the rest of the squad return to the high levels of fitness and stamina required through a variety of pitch-based and gym sessions, as well as fitness testing.
Pérez explained: “The target right now is to keep training. We know the fatigue is there, soreness everywhere, you feel tired, but that’s part of the process. That’s how you get fit, how you tell your body that it needs to get used to that.
“It’s quite tough in that way but at the same time it’s great to be back, see the boys, train with them again and I’m looking forward to the new season. That’s what is being demanded from us, the intensity on the ball.
“You are not allowed to be walking or jogging, always chasing the ball, trying to get it back as soon as possible. It’s a mindset we are trying to build up. That makes it even tougher, the quality is always good.”
The opening pre-season fixture, meanwhile, is now just one week away with City set to face National League side Notts County in a behind-closed-doors friendly in Seagrave on Saturday 9 July (1pm BST kick-off).
There is excitement within the camp as they come together and start to move towards those first matches, Pérez revealed.
“You always want to play games, that’s the best thing,” he added. “Even though in pre-season it is more about getting fit and getting some game time. But games are different, you always want to get involved in games, try to start with a win and scoring goals if possible.
“We’ve got a quality squad but are also learning again how to play when you’re tired, and keep your quality up, that’s part of pre-season as well. It’s going well so far.”