A day with Pellegrino Matarazzo, from La Concha walks to Real Sociedad’s pre-season plans | OneFootball

Pellegrino Matarazzo’s day starts at six in the morning with a walk along La Concha, often before dawn. He treats it as his way to switch on, sometimes even taking a dip. During pre-season he has opened up his routine to the club’s cameras.

According to Diario Vasco, he spent 24 hours with the club’s media during the current pre-season. He values routine but also flexibility, a principle he carries into football. After his walk he drives to Zubieta, enjoys the commute with music, sometimes cycles, and spends more time there than at his apartment.

On arrival he changes into Real kit and brews genmaicha, green tea with toasted rice, for energy. By eight thirty am he is on avocado toast and scrambled eggs prepared by team chef Jhonny Porto. He then takes a quiet spell on the Z1 terrace with his notebook, noting that inspiration can strike at any time, including the Copa final speech written between four and five am the day before.

At nine am he meets his assistants, then addresses the squad in the video room. The New Jersey-born coach wants fitness and rhythm, but also precision in details. Defensive work is central, including an alternative pressing structure, box defending, positioning, duels, and set pieces at both ends.

He accepts they conceded too many goals last season. The plan is to add pressing and set-piece variations, take fewer risks in man-to-man pressing, and stay alert to positioning after losing the ball.

He is pleased with the players’ application and early progress, while stressing they must keep pushing. Clarity of ideas is essential to handle every scenario, given the limited time in the modern game.

He rates La Liga very strong and the Europa League the second best competition. Testing themselves against high-level opponents is important to spot mistakes.

After morning training, lunch is at one thirty pm with his staff, then a video session reviews the Racing friendly. Tuesday was a double shift, with further work at three pm on the José Luis Orbegozo pitch.

He leaves Zubieta at six forty-five pm for a sponsor event. The day ends at eight pm, long yet uplifting, and he says his job does not feel like work.

Source: Diario Vasco