Football season over, What Now?

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A hectic 22/23 season comes to an end, with plenty of history-makers and iconic moments added into the beautiful games' history books. From Napoli's first scudetto since the days of Maradona, Man City's treble and a winter World Cup, the football season of 22/23 gave us all plenty to talk about for years to come. But what now? since the season has ended. There is still some football left, with Euro qualifiers and the conclusion of the Nations League however past those games is a summer with scarce amounts of football.

Many teams will return for pre-season in mid-July, travelling across unique countries to reach out to their global fanbases. There are some fascinating games lined up during pre-season with a showdown between Man Utd and Real Madrid in the USA, Cristiano's Al Nassr touring Japan and other parts of Asia alongside elite European teams. There will be interesting games to watch as well as a chance to view different players getting a chance to make a name for themselves. While games may not be competitive, they are sure to provide entertainment and skill regardless. 

Many fans and viewers regard pre-season games as just friendlies with no meaning because the stakes are so low for both clubs. Despite this, most clubs and managers make sure that pre-season is treated as seriously as any other game. Furthermore, for clubs, travelling to different continents to play these pre-season matches is another way of reaching out to a worldwide audience. It demonstrates their respect for fans from all around the world and provides them with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet and observe the athletes in person. This is only one component that contributes to the importance of pre-season. 

Pre-season is a perfect time for players to adapt and get to know their new coach if their team has recruited a new manager. Because there is less pressure from spectators, new managers and players have more time to digest their new circumstances and experiment with different ways of putting together a team and playing. This phase also allows them to identify key players as well as team flaws, allowing them to make necessary signings to improve the quality of their squad. 

This is an excellent approach for new players to adapt into a new squad. These players could be fresh acquisitions or academy graduates on the verge of making their first-team debut. In general, this pre-season period assists them in understanding the demands and character of their football team. Furthermore, they will be given a global platform to demonstrate their talents and abilities.

Senior players who were already present had an opportunity to reflect on the previous season. Whether it was a successful or disastrous season, there are always areas where they can improve each year, and pre-season is the ideal time to hone new abilities before the start of a new season. Pre-season is a chance for those who had a disappointing season to reclaim their manager's faith and rebuild their confidence to play football in a less stressful setting than they would ordinarily experience during the regular season. Most experts believe that mistakes will be made, but this is the optimum location to make them so that when the new season begins, the players will have learned from them.

Furthermore, once a season is complete, most sportsmen take a vacation to rest and recover. As a result, their fitness and intensity levels will have declined dramatically. As a result, managers employ pre-season to help their squad achieve peak match condition and sharpness before to the season in order to avoid unnecessary injuries during the campaign or a delayed start due to possibly low match fitness.

Pre-season is vital for both players and managers/coaches, which is why most elite clubs take their matches seriously regardless of who plays, whether it's the first or third team. This time is for them to sharpen their focus and stamp down their mark in order to be properly prepared for their approaching and difficult campaign.