Steven Gerrard is looking for his Aston Villa players to push themselves as hard as they can in the build-up to the beginning of the Premier League season.
The countdown to Villa’s trip to Bournemouth on the opening weekend is now in single digits as the head coach approaches his first full season in charge of the club.
A final pre-season friendly against Stade Rennais in France awaits this weekend as Gerrard looks for the team to step up their preparations.
He said: “In the early weeks in pre-season, it’s about getting through those days and getting your body tuned into the physical demands of the daily routine.
“As the games and the weeks go by, it’s important that you start turning the dial and getting yourself ready for the big kick-off.
“The players need to be using the next seven or eight days to really push themselves as hard as they can and tidy up where they’re at.
“If there are a few little gaps, whether it be physical, whether it be technical, it’s important they use this time now to make sure they’re bang on when we go to Bournemouth.
“We’ve got a really exciting friendly away at Rennais; it’ll be a decent atmosphere there and a real game.
“It’s one that we need to use really well and come out on the right side because that’s the feeling, confidence and belief that you take into the final week in the building. I’m really looking forward to this weekend.”
Gerrard has spread minutes around his squad in pre-season as he gave players an opportunity to both impress and get themselves in the best shape for the upcoming campaign.
The head coach has had four friendly matches to run the rule over his squad thus far, with one final chance to impress against the Ligue 1 side on Saturday.
“As a manager, you always want tough decisions. If you’ve got tough decisions it means that all the players are pushing. It means you’ve got more than one good player in that position, which is always helpful,” he said.
“Pre-season is about fitness, it’s about getting yourself match-sharp and match-ready, so we gave opportunities and game time at the front half of pre-season to everyone.
“People have benefitted from that and given me some tough decisions to make.
“Now that we’re days out and we’re moving really close to the start, there are certain individuals that are standing forward and grabbing the shirt.”
Watch the full VillaTV interview with Gerrard below...