Pre-season training | Week three round-up

20th July 2024

With the 2024/25 Premier League season now just four weeks away, Wolves have been ramping up their preparations for the new campaign with their first friendly outing.

Having spent the best part of the last two weeks training in the boiling hot Spanish sun, Gary O’Neil and the squad are now back at Compton Park as they prepare for the second part of their pre-season schedule and a trip to the USA.

But wolves.co.uk has rounded up everything that has been going on around the training ground as well as in Marbella during the third week of pre-season.

Saturday 13^th July

Following a gruelling training session last Friday, which saw the squad carry out running drills in the temperatures pushing 35 degrees Celsius out in Marbella, Saturday’s calmer schedule allowed the players to get some much-needed rest.

O’Neil gave the group the morning off and allowed the players to spend it however they wanted, with some heading off to the nearby golf course, while others relaxed around the training complex’s pool – which, the previous day, was the scene of a rather competitive volleyball match.

The hard work continued on Saturday evening as the group returned to the training pitch in slightly cooler conditions for a tactical session, before heading back to base for their evening meal.

#Summer2024

Sunday 14^th July

As is the norm the day before a match, training was shorter than usual on Sunday, as O’Neil prepared his group for their first pre-season training match against Serie A side Como 1907 on Monday evening.

Tactical work was the order of the day on Sunday morning, as well as more running drills, while the players also had the opportunity to meet some local Wolves supporters ahead of training.

The afternoon was all about relaxing and recharging the batteries before the first chance to get competitive minutes into their legs.

While the evening saw the squad come together to watch the Euro 2024 final as a group, with Hugo Bueno and Pablo Sarabia the happiest of this season’s squad, as Spain edged past England.

Monday 15^th July

The first matchday of pre-season came on Monday, as Wolves faced Como in a training match at their Marbella base, however, the game was overshadowed by a reported racial remark directed at Hee Chan Hwang.

Leading to angry reactions from Hwang’s teammates, and the dismissal of Daniel Podence, the game continued, and 10-man Wolves saw out the win following Matt Doherty’s second half header.

Heading home the winner in our first pre-season test.

🎯 @mattdoherty20 pic.twitter.com/GVo5hnTINk
— Wolves (@Wolves) July 17, 2024

The game gave O’Neil the first chance of seeing his new signings, returning loan players and some of the young talent who headed out to Marbella in action, with Jorgen Strand Larsen seeing a goal ruled out for offside, while Pedro Lima and Rodrigo Gomes both impressed.

The head coach changed his entire team at the break, allowing 22 of the squad who headed out to Spain to get a good run of minutes ahead of their return to Compton.

Tuesday 16^th July

Following a week in Spain, Tuesday signalled the end of Wolves’ warm weather training camp and saw the group pack up their kit and head back to the much cooler climate of England.

But not before another morning of recovery for those who played on Monday night, and further training for those who were not involved in the match.

Matt Doherty spoke to Wolves TV after the Como game on Monday night and summed up the team’s feelings of a hard, but enjoyable week at camp.

Wednesday 17^th July

Despite being back in Wolverhampton, there was no let up for O’Neil’s squad as they were straight back into training at Compton on Wednesday.

Attention was beginning to turn to next week’s tour to the United States with Wolves set to face three friendly fixtures during their stay in Miami, including matches against fellow Premier League sides West Ham United and Crystal Palace, as well as German outfit RB Leipzig.

The big news coming out of Wolves on Wednesday was not to do with the men’s first-team, but that of the women’s side, with legendary club captain Anna Price announcing her decision to retire from football after a 30 years of wearing old gold.

Thursday 18^th July

Double sessions continued for the players, but O’Neil did allow the players to have a later start to their second outing on the training pitches and a bit more time to recover following a morning of sunshine in the Black Country.

But the nice weather wasn’t the only thing which greeted the players on Thursday, as the media commitments they have to take part in also began, with several of the group selected to take part in external filming.

Drills with a difference 👕

Watch training ⤵️
— Wolves (@Wolves) July 18, 2024

This included the three new faces, as a camera crew from JD Sports, the club’s official sleeve sponsor, spent an hour with Strand Larsen, Lima and Gomes to record content for a feature which will be out during the season.

Friday 19^th July

It was like being back in Marbella for the players as they enjoyed the hottest temperatures the training ground has seen for a good while on Friday.

But with the third week of pre-season coming to an end, it was another day which saw shorter sessions, with more emphasis on the tactical side of the game, rather than the physical aspect.