The inside track on United's first training session at German camp

Leeds United's preseason training camp got underway yesterday morning with an intense session that mirrored day one of the 2024 edition.

- by Graham Smyth

The YEP is out in Germany and got a glimpse behind the scenes as Daniel Farke and his coaching staff put the players through their paces with a distinct emphasis on football.

By this point of preseason, there is still a lot of running and sprints to get fitness levels back up to where they need to be but the majority of their time out on the training pitch was taken up with football itself which allowed Joe Rodon and Ethan Ampadu to be their competitive, vociferous selves.

Activation and stretching came first on a tennis court, while security staff and the backroom team carried a set of goals from one pitch to another. Goalkeeping coach Ed Wootten, decked out in a pair of old-school Puma Kings with the fold-over tongue, was set to work with his charges on a separate pitch initially while the outfield players did the first bits of their work.

Leeds have paid even more attention to detail this summer, bringing two of their own ground staff members to Germany to give the pitches a little extra care.

Before it got going Farke gathered his players for a quick chat and led a rendition of 'Happy Birthday' for coach Christopher John, who then ran a gauntlet in a tunnel of back slaps.