Hull City skipper Lewie Coyle says the messaging has been clear from new head coach Sergej Jakirovic and his staff over the course of the first two weeks of pre-season.
City began their third week under the Bosnian in the blistering Istanbul heat on Monday ahead of their first two public outings which begin on Tuesday with a clash against Istanbulspor.
Coyle says the messaging from the new management team has helped put smiles on faces, and it’s now up to the players in City’s squad to implement what Jakirovic wants.
“It is always about getting that fitness and laying the foundation down in terms of the fitness. You want to be sharp come the back end of pre-season going into the first game of the season,” said the skipper.
“We are under a new gaffer and new coaching staff, so it has been nice to be back in, see all the lads and have the two games under our belt. Fitness feels good, and all the lads are in good spirits and are all looking towards the new season, so all smiles all round.
“They have been spot on. They’ve come in with their ideas, and they are very clear. It is up to us boys to adapt to them, they can adapt to us, and I am looking forward to working with them and see what is ahead.”
Pre-season training camps are viewed as a crucial period to help the squad forge those connections and that will be the case again this summer, especially crucial given the unwanted distractions surrounding the club.
As they have been in the previous two summers, the Tigers are based down in Riva, which is just over 20 minutes outside Istanbul and the headquarters of the Turkish FA, in their purpose-built environment.
Twelve months ago, there were no fresh faces in the travelling party, but a year on, Dillon Phillips, Semi Ajayi and Reda Laalaoui have all arrived to boost the group.
“Turkey is always a nice one to go away. We will certainly get used to the weather, but we have had it over here for a few weeks which is nice,” the 29-year-old explained.
“It is warm-weather training and it has everything that we need to get to that level of fitness we need. We have a few new boys and it is a good thing to get them over there with team bonding and start that togetherness which you need throughout the season.
“We certainly needed it last season when it got tough going into the final game last year and that togetherness got us other the line so that togetherness for me as captain is really, really important.
“You are sort of finding your feet again in the first couple of pre-season games. They are the first after a long period of time of not having a competitive game so it is always nice to dust off the cobwebs if you like and get a bit of freshness into the legs.”
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