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The 2006/07 season may have only just ended but PSV head coach Ronald Koeman is already looking forward to the next season. As PSV are putting the finishing touches on the organization of their pre-season campaign, Ronald Koeman gives an extensive explanation on the pre-season programme, at the request of PSV Media
PSV will begin their six-week pre-season preparation training period for the 2007-2008 season with a training session at De Herdgang on Monday 9 July. Koeman thinks that a six-week training period is an ideal preparation. “We resume training on 9 July, later than some other clubs, but we will still have a depleted squad at our disposal. Last season we started training on 6 July, but many players were still away on international duty at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. We intend to play a friendly against amateurs Wilhelmina ’08 to round off the first week of training on Saturday 14 July. In the second week PSV will withdraw in the sheltered environment of the country estate De Rosep in Oisterwijk. “We know the place. The accommodation as well as the training pitches is perfect. All the players, including the new signings, will have a great opportunity to be together for some days in wonderful surroundings.”
The programme involves hard physical labour in week three and six. “We will indeed intensify the training sessions and play two friendlies in quick succession, against Sparta ’25 on 19 July and Herpinia, before we take on VVV in Venlo in a memorial game. From then on we will face stronger opponents. We will stay in Holland before we fly to Moscow to compete in a well-contested tournament, where we meet Real Madrid, hosts Lokomotiv and another big club, either AC Milan or Internazionale. We will face some really strong sides, ahead of the clash with Ajax on 12 August with the Johan Cruijff Shield at stake. By then we will hopefully have built a strong team, because one week later the new Eredivisie season gets underway.”PSV met townsmen FC Eindhoven in a pre-season friendly last season.z
Koeman is not worried about the physical fitness of the South American player who will represent their countries at the Copa America in Venezuela from 26 June to 15 July “But I have to admit that the tournament does not start until 26 June, while the final takes place one week after we have resumed training.” The Mexican Carlos Salcido will also take part in the Gold Cup from 6 June to 24 June and will consequently compete in two tournaments. “It obviously depends on how the tournament develops. But the players will have enjoyed a well-deserved holiday by then. They will not be allowed to take time off work, though, and will have to report for duty at PSV soon. Salcido may be given some more time, but he, too, has enjoyed a two-week holiday and will have to join his team mates at short notice. We will have to prepare well, as we face a congested fixture list.”
