AFC Bournemouth head coach Scott Parker is planning to “crank up” preparations for the new season during the club’s training camp in Portugal.
Parker’s squad headed to the Algarve today and will spend ten days being put through their paces during some intensive warm-weather sessions.
They will play behind-closed doors training matches against League One outfit Sheffield Wednesday and Braga who compete in the top flight in Portugal.
The Cherries return to England on 20th July and have full-scale pre-season friendlies against Bristol City on 23rd July and Spanish club Real Sociedad a week later, both at Vitality Stadium.
Discussing pre-season, Parker told afcb.co.uk: “It has gone really well. The boys came back in a very good place but I wouldn’t have expected anything different from them.
“A lot of them have been with us for a season and they are a good bunch of lads. They have looked after themselves well and I also wanted them to have some real downtime, relax and chill a bit.
“I see a fresh bunch and a group that wants to work hard and get stronger.
“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.”
Previewing the two Vitality Stadium friendlies, Parker 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.”
