Rodgers Excited By Austrian Trip

It's a trip for Swansea City that will see them follow in the footsteps of the likes of Everton as they continue their preparations for their first season in the Premier League.

And speaking to Wales on Sunday, Rodgers outlined the things that they will experience whilst in the Alps.

“It’s a fantastic training camp." said Rodgers

“We will have had two weeks training at home, working well and working hard, but I always feel in the middle week of our pre-season training that a change of environment is important for us.

“Because it also gives the players the opportunity to bond socially and group together.

“I found out a lot about the group when we went to Holland last year. We did a number of workshops which were very good for us. I got the feelings of the players and they also understood totally where I was coming from as well. I want the same this time and we’re looking forward to it.

“It’s been fantastic so far,” said Rodgers of pre-season work. “We came back a week later than most because of our involvement in the play-offs, but we were back with five weeks to go before the first game which us plenty of time. And the players came back fit and strong and looking very good.

“We’ve already done quite a few double sessions where our first session is at 10am until 11.30am and then they go away to a hotel and rest.

“Then we have a session at 4pm which allows us to have two good quality sessions of high intensity work in one day.

“The players have responded brilliantly and I think they’re more educated now in relation to what we’re doing. We start at 10am but they’re in for 8.30am doing their pre-hab, their stretching and recovery.

“And then in-between sessions they will get the chance to make sure they can rehydrate, get the food they need and then get away and rest well.

“And it’s that rest which allows you to push them to the limit in the second session as well. It’s tough going but it’s something I know that, having done it for a few years, works well.

“My work is very much based with the football – and the players will tell you that’s a lot harder than running through forests and all that sort of stuff.

“I told the players on the first day of pre-season, we won’t be doing that, because I’ve never seen a tree on the football field.

“I feel that’s important, because when you’re working with the ball, you’re either running with or without it – but it’s also about the thinking you have to do when you’re not on the ball.

“There’s obviously room for people to do the aerobic work and get the runs in, but our work is very much on the pitches.

“I will get on with the stuff that comes with the other side of managing a football club – but my natural environment is always on the field and that’s where my priority lies.

“It’s a big week for us and we will make the most of it.”