- The midfielder spoke to Foxes Player HD after a first day of training on the Club’s pre-season camp in Austria
- Drinkwater says the players have been working hard to stay fit over the summer
- The England international believes Leicester City’s title form earned them lots of respect from other teams towards the end of last season
As the squad settled down to the hard work of their pre-season training camp in Austria, Danny Drinkwater insisted that the team would be doing everything to make the new boys welcome.
Ron-Robert Zieler, Luis Hernandez, Nampalys Mendy and Ahmed Musa were all among the group for the first day of training in Austria on Monday morning, and Drinkwater is confident they can settle quickly into the squad.
Drinkwater was a key man for the Foxes as they roared to their first Premier League title last term, and with the new recruits on board, he’s happy to see everyone putting in the hard yards required to help them defend that title.
The England international also paid tribute to the Club’s medical and sports science staff, but stressed that the lads have been putting in plenty of work of their own in the off-season to keep sharp.
Drinkwater told : “They’re (the new signings) looking good; nice and sharp. As a bunch of lads we make sure that every player who comes in here feels welcome and I’m sure they’ll agree that it’s a pretty easy squad to fit into. So hopefully they all fit together and start to impress.
“I’m not too sure how people will approach us [next season], we’ll have to see. I think we’ve gained a lot more respect from other teams and that showed towards the end of last season, definitely.”
But while there was an excitement to be back among the group, there was no denying that it was a gruelling training programme, albeit one carefully designed to get the players at peak fitness in time for the Community Shield next month.
“It’s tough,” added Drinkwater. “The Club have been coming here for quite a few years now so we know what’s expected of us. It was good to get among the lads again and start working.
“I think credit to the sports science staff because they get us in good shape quite fast but credit to the boys too – we all tend to do our own stuff and make sure we come back in good condition. Obviously the boys went off to celebrate at the end of the season – I think everyone did. So now it’s just about getting your fitness back and making sure you’re ready for the season.
“They make sure they keep in touch and put together a pre-season programme and it’s up to you to follow it.
“I’ve enjoyed myself [over the summer], I’m not going to lie, but I’m here to work hard now and let’s see what this season brings.”
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