3/1 To Win
Tom Huddlestone says that Frank Lampard and his coaching staff are “demanding intensity” as they continue to put the Derby County squad through their paces in Tenerife.
The Rams have completed double sessions on both Monday and Tuesday, but unlike pre-season when Huddlestone began his career, there has been plenty of ball work.
According to the midfielder, that will stand the team in good stead when it comes to their first game.
He told RamsTV: “The way that science in sport has developed, during the off-season, the players have a different programme to what they used to back in the day.
“Before, it would be a week of just constant running, until someone threw up.
“In the past few years, it’s been much more ball-specific, which stands you in better stead for when the matches come around.
“As tough as it is, it is more beneficial.”
As Huddlestone says, even though the ball is involved from the off, pre-season training is still physically demanding.
The 31-year-old gave an insight to the sessions that have been put on by Lampard and his staff in the Tenerife heat.
“Frank, Jody and Chris are demanding intensity and if it’s not right from the off, they will stop the session and reiterate what they want, and the lads have taken it on board,” he explained.
“Everybody has come back in good shape and the training has been intense so far.
“The manager spoke well on his first day, and the staff around him have coached at Chelsea and been around football for a long time.
“Frank has played under some of the best managers ever, so I’m sure that he has picked up a lot.”
