BBC NEWS: Stoke City players told to improve fitness as Narcis Pelach makes ‘through the roof’ claim.

Stoke City players are still getting to terms with what new manager Narcis Pelach expects of them.\

Narcis Pelach plans to gradually raise the fitness levels of his inherited Stoke City squad in the following weeks and months, ensuring that the players are completely capable of carrying out exactly what his game plan requires. Pelach takes over from Steven Schumacher last month and has five points in his first five games.

Pelach acknowledges the club’s summer recruitment drive, which resulted in loan moves for four promising players who are now contracted to Premier League clubs. He is still getting to know his team, both personally and professionally.

Stoke delivered a spirited performance against Norwich, resulting in a 1-1 tie.Tonight, against Bristol City, they will have a similar issue in that the opponent arriving at the Bet365 Stadium prefers to have the ball and will put the Potters’ aggressive pressing style to the test.
Pelach will work with the club’s staff and the players themselves in a variety of areas – from work on the training pitch to the nutritional side of a footballer’s preparation – to maximise their capabilities.

“I don’t look at what happened before I came, because I don’t think I’m in a position to talk – and I respect a lot my colleagues, Steven and his staff,” Pelach said when asked about his inheritance. “I appreciate all of the coaches; we play differently, do various things based on our backgrounds and how we feel about the game.

“I don’t want to say whether it was good or negative because I honestly don’t know. We need to improve our fitness levels in order to accomplish our goals. I understand that it is incredibly tough. I tried it in Spain, and the response was overwhelming. We had the most runs at Huddersfield in 21-22 when we got to Wembley. The playstyle was quite similar.

“At Norwich, we were among the teams that ran the most, as were Middlesbrough. I expect Stoke City to be a high-energy squad, and I believe it has been apparent in recent days and games that the team is on fire. We must pay close attention to every element, including food, exercise, preparation, and thinking.

“From a technical, tactical, mental, and physical standpoint, it is extremely hard, but that is how I see the game. It’s how I live my life and what I hope to see every day. I’m very clear: I don’t want to coach a squad that does not reflect me. I want to see that intensity in every moment of every game.

“The athletes agree with it; they want to be thus. We have a way, no doubt about it. I understand that it will take time. We can’t build it in two or three months because it’s so difficult, but we have to attempt to create as much as possible.”

Pelach has a track record of being part of a staff at numerous clubs that formed their beliefs around supreme fitness standards. He concedes that there is no magic wand in this regard, but he feels that over time, he can enhance Stoke on a variety of aspects, including performance and fitness. For the time being, he is meeting the team in the middle and tailoring his coaching to their unique characteristics and talents.

“I am a coach who adapts to what I have,” she said. “I am not a coach who does whatever he wants. I looked at what Stoke had a month ago and believed this was the type of play that I thought would work with the personnel they had. I don’t go to Stoke and try to do my own thing; I don’t have an ego and am not selfish. My background…I am from nowhere in Spain. I have had to struggle for everything.

“I’d like to adapt to what Stoke has. I believe we can build this hard-working club and squad to be extremely tough to beat, and I am confident in our ability to do so. There haven’t been many games, and more are needed, but we’re making progress. The path will be lengthy, and we will have to adapt at times, but I want to make it clear that we are not in Barcelona.

“We don’t go and do whatever we want, and everyone has to adjust because of us. We are adjusting to the opponent. This is what we are doing with the squad that we have. We may have to press harder at times, or we may have to sit. I want to succeed and win games.

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