Everton's pre-season camp in southern Germany has been marked by double training sessions, extra set-piece work, and cycle rides to the base where Spain won Euro 2024. The players left their secluded camp near the Black Forest on Friday to head to Stuttgart for the first of three friendlies in a week, starting with VfB Stuttgart on Saturday.
Training and Team Building
David Moyes and his team have made double sessions a feature of pre-season, both in St Andrews, Scotland, and in the German countryside. The players have been pushed through morning and evening fitness sessions, with their minds tested by 'Wolf', a strategy game similar to The Traitors, popular in the England setup.
On Thursday, the ECHO visited the Öschberghof spa resort, the team's base, which boasts three golf courses and a Michelin-starred restaurant. The players enjoyed time off on Wednesday, with Jarrad Branthwaite and Hayden Hackney beating Dwight McNeil and Nathan Patterson in a matchplay round.
Football Facilities and Set Pieces
The real attraction is the football base over the hill, where pitches used by SV Aasen have hosted Inter, Al-Hilal, and Spain's Euro 2024-winning side. Players have cycled to and from sessions, with the second session in the evening to avoid heat. Hayden Hackney and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall told the ECHO they are being pushed physically but are enjoying the build-up.
Specialist set-piece work is led by coach David Reddington, whose role was confirmed for the new season. Players and staff accept set pieces were a missed opportunity last year. Iliman Ndiaye has returned to camp despite interest from Al-Hilal, while Tyler Dibling has been working on his crossing, earning acclaim from coaches.
