Sapping Spanish schedule could solve costly Sheffield United problem after "deep dive" produces clear solutions
Sheffield United's coaching staff believe improved fitness and sharper game management could prove the difference this season after a detailed review of last year's shortcomings shaped their demanding training camp in Valencia.
If Sheffield United do end the 2026/27 season having achieved the goals they still believe are possible, despite the club’s precarious financial situation, then it may well be traced to a crucial few weeks in the middle of this summer.
The Blades stepped up their pre-season preparations this week with a warm-weather camp in Spain, ending with a friendly against Levante on Friday. The aim is not just to get sun on their backs, although the prospect of players living in each other’s pockets for a week is seen as no bad thing.
The gruelling sessions in the Spanish sun are also designed to test players mentally as well, with that aspect identified as one contributing factor to how United’s last season petered out after they had comfortably pulled clear of relegation.
There will be inevitable frustration that more new and confirmed signings didn’t join Romelle Donovan on the plane to Valencia but for the core of the squad which is already in place, the hope is that a tough few weeks will stand them in good stead for the coming months.
"We're happy with how it’s gone so far,” newly-promoted assistant manager Micky Collins said. “We've worked the lads very hard and the conditions at the moment, with the heat, have actually been a bonus.
“Because it means that they've had to push themselves in extreme conditions at times, and we wanted that. We did a bit of a deep dive at the end of last season, in the areas that we want to improve in, and naturally that was one of them.
“If we can bump the squad 10, 15, 20 per cent, from a fitness point of view, then everybody benefits. So all in all, on the first two or three weeks, we're relatively happy with how it's gone.
“We’ve got a slightly longer pre-season to get that work into the boys, and they've responded really well to it. There have been some tired bodies over the first two weeks because it has been intense, but there are a number of different areas that we want to focus on.”
One is their clinical nature. United could have easily won by two or three goals in their second pre-season friendly at Chesterfield on Saturday but ended up drawing 0-0.
That was one pattern behind their record of dropping almost 30 points from winning positions last season, and not something that has gone unnoticed amongst the coaching staff.
“We have put a little bit of a premium on improving that,” Collins added. “We've had loads of games where we were in control, that we should have put them to bed and we didn't. And then, lo and behold, the opposition went down the other end and nicked it.
“So, as I say, there are a few different bits that we want to put a massive emphasis on. But the main one in these first few weeks is working at the legs and keeping everybody as healthy as we can."