Gills skipper in good shape as the club begins it pre-season programme
Adam Barrett says he is in the best shape he has ever been in going in to a new pre-season campaign.Barrett, who was voted the club’s `Player of the Year` at the end of April, played 45 minutes of the game against Faversham on Saturday and says he is ready for the challenges that League One will present.
Speaking exclusively to the club’s official website he said:
“It’s great to be back, we’ve had a break and we are now ready to go. Everyone has come back in good shape and I am very excited for the new season and it’s nice to get started.
“I had my family holiday in Turkey with my wife and kids and we always have a Center Parcs break so it’s nice to have that quality family time with the school runs, the sports days and it’s been fun.
“But you get to a stage when the fixtures come out when you get that buzz and I’m delighted to get underway.
“I’m as hungry as ever, last year was brilliant and we want to build on that and I’m like anyone else – you can’t wait to get started and get things going.
“When you see the clubs like Wolves in our second game of the season and some other good tests it’s fantastic and that’s what you play football for.”
Adam says he is in good shape ahead of the new season and says the times when players came back unfit and overweight are now well gone.
He said: “I feel probably it’s the best shape I have ever been in coming in to a season. I feel good, I’ve lost a bit of weight and I’m ready to go. You get older and you want to look after yourself more and I feel stronger – I can’t wait to get going.
“The days are gone when players come back half a stone over weight. With the sports science around you have to come back in reasonable shape and everyone does.
“The excitement of the new season is here and we are ready for it.”
Barrett said what the club achieved last season is now in the back of their minds and the squad has re-focussed on the challenges that lay ahead.
He added: “It’s a new season, the club’s history will always be there but this is a new challenge and one we are really looking forward to. We won’t be thinking of last year, we will work extremely hard; we will roll our sleeves up and there will be testing times as there was last year.
“There are good parts and bad parts but we need to stick together and it’s good that the majority of the squad is here from last year so it’s a tight knit group and the gaffer will make sure we won’t rest on our laurels, keep everyone on their toes and drive the club forward.
“We have to adjust to it and there are young players here who haven’t played at that level who will have to get used to it. We are a strong team, we have good quality, we have the belief and we stick together and we fight tooth and nail to make sure we are successful.
“When I came here I didn’t come to just sit back, I came here to move it forward and I want another successful season and there is no reason why we can’t do that.
“We have no-one to fear.”
Adam commented on new signing Amine Linganzi and what he feels the midfielder will bring to the team.
He said: “He’s another great addition to the squad without a doubt, in the second half when he played here last season he looked very strong in the middle of the park. He looked good on the ball so I’m sure his attributes are going to be invaluable to us.
“He’s a really nice lad and he will be made to feel at home straight away and I’m delighted to see him here. It boosts competition for places and he impressed me last season and there were people talking about him so we know what level of performance he can produce.”
To watch Adam’s exclusive interview on Gills Player click here.
To book your season ticket for the Gills 2013/14 League One campaign click the link below.