Three Days Later
Centro Bortolotti Training Complex
Main Pitch
9:15 AM
Thursday morning brought different work because Gasperini's pre-season structure always followed the same pattern—two days of pure fitness conditioning, one day of technical work, repeat—and today's session was eleven-a-side practice match on the main pitch with competitive intensity but controlled tactical structure.
The squad split into two teams—starters versus reserves with some mixing to balance quality—and Demien lined up in central midfield for the first team alongside de Roon in the double pivot while Koopmeiners played ahead of them in the advanced midfield role.
Højlund led the line for the starters and Lookman operated on the left side of the attacking trio, and the formation was Gasperini's preferred 3-4-2-1 that required midfielders to cover substantial ground both vertically and horizontally while maintaining positional discipline.
