Manchester City set for pre-season bootcamp in Austria

Jul 5, 2012 8:35:00 AM

Roberto Mancini is taking his squad for high altitude training at 1,200 feet as they take the first preparatory steps towards defending their Premier League crown

By Greg Stobart

Roberto Mancini will take his Manchester City players on a grueling pre-season bootcamp as they prepare to defend their Premier League title.

Those City players who were not involved in Euro 2012 will return to the club for tests on Thursday before flying out to Austria on Sunday for high altitude training at 1,200 feet.

Mancini has arranged for City to stay in Innsbruck, where he previously took his Inter squad, and will put the players through intensive training sessions.

City will also play three friendlies in Austria - against Al Hilal, Dynamo Dresden and Besiktas - before taking a four-day break and then flying out to China for friendlies against Arsenal and Malaysia.

Mancini wants his star-studded team in top shape so they can hit the ground running in all competitions next term.

The Italian's methods have not always been well received and a number of players took issue with double training sessions at Carrington when he first took over from Mark Hughes in December 2009.

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