Younes Kaboul believes the value of a good pre-season can’t be underestimated as the Lads prepare for the 2016-17 Premier League campaign.
Having completed their initial tests, Sunderland’s players will now jet off to Austria where they will undertake an intensive 10-day training camp.
With fitness being the sole priority in these early stages, Sunderland’s first batch of games isn’t until July 20, when they face Hartlepool United before later taking on Rotherham United for their second domestic fixture.
While there are still five weeks to go until Sunderland’s first competitive match at Manchester City, the 30-year-old has admitted a well-structured pre-season is a fundamental area to get right in order to have a good campaign.
“Pre-season is everything for every club, it’s very important,” he said. “It’s what determines your season and that’s why we are getting ready for the league because it’s going to be tough again and we have to make sure we are ready physically.”
Following the conclusion of the Lads’ domestic pre-season matches, the Black Cats will travel to France where they will play a further three games before taking on German giants Borussia Dortmund a week before the Premier League gets underway.
And the Frenchman believes it’s important the Lads target a strong start to build on the foundations laid down in these initial weeks.
“The first couple of games in pre-season will be about fitness and after that it will be about getting in shape for the first game of the season.
“It’s a good time to play a team like Man City because they aren’t always ready or they need to know each other a bit more. They will have a new manager and new players so it can take time."
