Manager Chris Hughton has said that he’s been delighted with the way the players have adapted to his requirements out in Austria as we step up our pre season work ahead of the coming Premier League campaign.
With three good days of work already over the past week following our landing in the Alps on Saturday, with the upcoming opening pre season friendly against Fortuna Dusseldorf on Friday evening, Hughton couldn’t be more pleased with the progress the players are making as they step their levels up.
Speaking to the Official Site the gaffer explained that Austria so far had given him everything he wanted for this summer.
‘It’s very good out here, and exactly what we came for. It’s higher altitude but the main thing is that it’s a very concentrated training environment for the players. The facilities at the hotel are excellent, with a spa and gym. They are used to having teams here at the hotel, and in the winter it is used for skiing and it is a similar environment we experienced pre-season in Tignes two years ago – and so far the weather has been very good.’
He added.
‘The main thing is the training camp environment. We have been working hard, doing three sessions each day. One early in the morning, another mid-morning and then another either in the gym or football session in the afternoon.’
With the announcement of the departure of Elvis Manu recently, Hughton went on to say about the youngster.
‘I am delighted for Elvis. There are always two sides to a situation like the one Elvis has been in. From our side it didn’t work out as we had hoped, but it is always very difficult for the player. Generally he conducted himself very well, but it is very frustrating when you have been here as long as he has, and had as little football as he has had. A good result for Elvis was finding somewhere he could kickstart his career. The good thing for him is that he is still very young and he had played a lot of games before we signed him. So it is a good one for all concerned and we wish him well, because he was a popular lad here.’
Hughton also had praise for Beram Kayal who has now joined us in Austria.
‘Beram is now out here with us in Austria, and it was very good timing. He has missed very little training – but more importantly everything is fine and he and his wife had a little boy, and I am really pleased for him and his family.’
