The VfL Wolfsburg squad have already got through eight training sessions and one friendly during their first four days in Almancil. On Monday, the players had their ninth session but also their first proper period of free time. Following the 3-0 friendly win over Vitesse Arnhem on Sunday and the subsequent fan evening with the travelling supporters, head coach Bruno Labbadia showed some mercy on his men and did not begin Monday’s training until 10:30am. After an intense circuits session to warm up, the Wolves got into 12 pairs and took part in a challenge whereby they had to carry a ball over 20 metres into the opposing team’s area with two touches. William and John Yeboah were the winning pair in this test of precision.
“For our benefit”
Their work wasn’t done there, though. Before dismissing his players for the afternoon, Labbadia made them work up a sweat with a final half-hour running segment. “We have great facilities here and a fair amount of work to get through, but I’m used to that,” said the 26-year-old of arduous sessions. “It’s always like that during the preparations. It’s hard but it’s for our benefit. You saw at the end of the first half of the season that we still had a lot of energy in the tank. That’s obviously where want to get to by the end of this training camp.”
Rest and regeneration are also a part of that, though, and so the Wolves enjoyed their downtime by relaxing by the pool, unwinding in their hotel room or walking around the surroundings.
