OM’s preparatory phase got under way at the beginning of this week and the squad is now on a training camp in Capbreton. Physical trainer Georges Gacon has announced the programme.

Training has been held twice a day at the Commanderie and since Thursday in Capbreton. The Olympiens are running a lot, getting into shape for the coming season. This first week has been dedicated to physical conditioning and tests “with the ball, always”, insists Albert Emon.

Grouped by position, the players underwent a series of tests at the Commanderie to give the medical and technical staff all the data they need to prepare for the season ahead. “Once the tests results are analysed, we can group players according to their form and tailor their programmes accordingly,”explained physical trainer Georges Gacon.
A first wave of internationals (L. Cana, S. Nasri, B. Cesar and K. Ziani) will join the squad on Monday in Landes and things are already in place for them to catch up to their team-mates. “They’ll be behind to start with but they’ll follow the same regime and soon catch up,” tells Georges Gacon. Two friendly matches have been planned during the training camp at Capbreton, one against Libourne (L2) and the other against Bordeaux (plus d'informations dans l'agenda).
So the preparatory phase has begun without the customary interruption of the Intertoto, much to the relief of the physical trainer. “It used to cut down our preparation time, now the phase is longer and that’s a good thing,” comments Gacon.
So the month’s work is under way, a month of training until the season kicks off. “Unlike swimming or athletics, where you have 6 months to prepare for an event, football only allows one month or 6 weeks to prepare for 9 months of competition,”, explains Gacon, “that’s why you get form slumps in football. But that’s the way humans are: physical conditioning can be achieved, but it can come and go.
We just have to hope that the players don’t all slump at the same time. It depends on biological factors and the differences among the players. But a good pre-season is the best way to start.
That’s the way to have “a squad in peak form for the first match of the season,” as Albert Emon puts it.