Send
Print
RSSWe'll be fitter than ever
Christophe Berra is backing Hearts to be fitter than ever at the start of next season.
The Gorgie skipper and his team-mates and has been put through the wringer with team-mates by fitness coach Tom Ritchie over the last week.
But he hopes the fruits of their intensive labour will be borne once the new campaign gets underway by 9th August.
"Everyone comes into pre-season prepared to do a lot of running and physical work," he told Hearts.TV. "In two or three weeks all the running will be finished and we will be fit and sharp and ready for the new season.
"No matter what club you are at the fitness coach gets moaned at but that is part and parcel of football. It is not we don't like it - it just we work so hard!"
Whilst some have suggested an increased role, Christophe just sees Tom Ritchie has doing what he does at this time of year - with serious professionalism.
"He's been in serious mode and we have been working hard and getting the job down as we wants us to do," he said of the former 800m Commonwealth Games competitor. "I've been three or four seasons and this is one of the hardest pre-season's we've done."
Meanwhile Eggert Jonsson knows that he needs to maintain the form behind his rapid rise to international prominence next season, if he is to push on and achieve more in his career.
The Icelandic international made his debut in a 3-0 defeat to Denmark last season, and is eager to taste more top level action with the World Cup qualifiers due to start in the autumn. But Eggert knows only by doing well at Hearts will he get a chance.
"It was my first real season breaking into the firs team," he said. "I got my first national game so hopefully this season can be bigger for me and I can step up a level and keep improving.
"I am still quite young, but I need to work hard in training and games and it will come."
On Hearts.TV today - Watch Christophe Berra and Eggert Jonsson talk about pre-season!
