Behind the scenes at Leeds United training camp with playfighting, Farke jibes and Bamford effort — YEP 25/7/24
By Graham Smyth
Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford was put through his
paces with an intensive fitness session while his team-mates worked on recovery
after Wednesday's friendly game.
Bamford and Daniel James were joined by rehab and fitness
coach Ruben Crespo out on the pitch during the morning session on Thursday at
Leeds' training camp. The day began with a team meeting, before the squad were
split into groups for various recovery and regeneration activities. But Bamford
and James were given much more strenuous work, with neither showing any signs
of ill effects from their respective issues that kept them out of the 4-1 win
over Hannover.
James missed the game as a precautionary measure due to a
slight adductor strain, but was twisting and turning fine and receiving passes
from Bamford to take on and beat Crespo, after some running and light passing
work. Bamford, whose workload has been carefully managed since a minor knee
operation on a season-ending injury, stayed out with Crespo after the winger
had completed his mandated work and was given repeated running drills for a
lengthy period.
Elsewhere during the morning Crysencio Summerville and Willy
Gnonto worked on their boxing skills with a shadow sparring session, the
Dutchman staying at range and Gnonto looking to get in tight before they
spotted club media staff filming their play-fighting.
The players were given mats to place around a tennis court
for a stretch and foam rolling session, before new boys Joe Rothwell and Jayden
Bogle arrived, alongside Brenden Aaronson, to join in. Fitness and performance
coach Chris Domogalla ran the group through their plan for the day in sunshine
so bright captain Ethan Ampadu was prompted to appeal for sunglasses from a
staff member.
Farke made his arrival, flanked by some of his assistants,
before jumping onto a static bike for a fitness session of his own while the
players stretched. Laughter was soon ringing out from under a gazebo where, to
no one's surprise, Gnonto, Summerville and Georginio Rutter had positioned
their mats in close proximity.
After stretching one group was handed velcro cuffs to place
around the tops of their legs to work on blood circulation as part of the
recovery work.
The session was watched by club technical director Gretar
Steinsson, who joined Farke for a conversation following the manager's efforts
on the bike. The duo then watched Bamford complete his intense session and
Farke wandered over to where Aaronson was set to be interviewed by the YEP,
insisting the first question centre around the privileged lifestyle players
have in the modern game, including recovery sessions that involve lying down
and then two minute rest periods from the lying down. The manager compared it
to recovery sessions in his day, which involved significant amounts of running.
Leeds are due to face a second German side before the end of
their camp, which will conclude on Monday before they fly back to England and
continue their pre-season preparations at Thorp Arch.