#team-preparation

#team-preparation

Three players are in the running for the final spot in the trio: Youssouf Fofana, Ardon Jashari and Samuele Ricci. The head coach will likely make a final decision only after today's final training session at Milanello, with an eye on the fact Fofana is one yellow card from being banned for the derby.

Unfortunately, things happened here this morning at the airport and guys haven't really skated for four days almost and haven't even had a workout. Hopefully we'll go through this game without injury. We're asking a lot from the guys to come in and be ready to play but it's not going to be easy, so we've got to make sure we're going to be careful. We're going to prepare them like we always do. We're not just coming here because it was on our schedule. We want to leave here with two points. Mentally it's going to be a little bit of a challenge.

We know them but they know us. The most important is the evolution, and keep improving, in all the areas, for us, like a team. To be sure that in our [play] I think we will be stronger than today. That for me is the objective, [be] better and show full respect to Paraguay and Australia and the fourth that we are going to find out about in March.

it's not just stuff out on the field that can get you, it's also the off-field stuff. The England captain's disgruntlement with his side's treatment in the press extends to recent criticism of their preparations, with Stokes hitting out at the has beens who have been leading the chorus of complaint and insisting that we leave no stone unturned and have prepared incredibly well.

"The Patriots' players finding ways to stay engaged during the summer break is nothing new. Players participated in various events to maintain their performance ahead of the season."

The 49ers will host the Broncos and Raiders for joint practices ahead of their preseason games, showcasing their commitment to improving team cohesion.

"It's changed now. The boys will have a two-week programme before they come back into the club, so when they come back in, they're not a million miles away from when they left the club."