Davis lifts lid on demanding new regime at Blues
DAVID Davis has given an intriguing insight into Aitor Karanka’s demanding training regimen.
The Birmingham City stalwart was part of the squad who drew their first pre-season match 1-1 with Charlton on Saturday.
Davis played the second half at Wast Hills and the 29-year-old described how Karanka has been making his squad train twice a day ahead of the Championship kick-off on September 12.
He has also revealed the back-to-basics message the new boss has given his players.
“It was a good test for us,” said Davis. “We have been working hard over the past two weeks and I think our fitness levels showed in both halves. We all looked strong and I think that’s a good first game under our belt.
“You have got to take it as seriously as possible, the gaffer has said that to us a lot – ‘train how you play’.
“We have got to bring that intensity to the friendlies because we have got to treat it as if it is a game. They are warm-up games for us and if we treat it like that I think we will go into the season pretty strong.
“It’s been really good. Everyone has bought into it. He was really open and honest with us the first day he came in. Training has been very black and white, very straightforward, obviously with the tactics side, it’s been really hard but very good.
“We have had double sessions, 10am then 6pm. I think it has been important with the intensity we have been training to get that rest in the afternoon.
“Normally you would train at 2.30pm but because of the intensity we have been training at we are training again at 6pm. It’s been really hard but really good.
“It is a bit of an odd pre-season, it is for everyone. A lot of the boys have two to three weeks off, usually you get a longer preparation, you probably have a bit of running in your programme but because of the length we were playing games and training for, rest was needed.
“It’s been a bit weird but I think everyone has coped with it well so far and we are looking strong.
“You have got to be positive, as players you want that transparency so for us it’s great and, going forward, you can only have great things.”
Davis returns to Blues with one year left on his contract – and having not played for the club since January.
Indeed, he was a bystander when football returned following lockdown, with his loan to Charlton meaning he was not eligible to play for his parent club in the final nine games.
Since then head coach Pep Clotet has been replaced by Karanka and Davis has his eighth manager in six years at St Andrew’s.
“It’s good to be back involved, especially watching the lads going through what they were going through knowing I couldn’t help. It was really strange for me,’’ he said.
“It’s been quite a while for me so I am champing at the bit and hopefully I can show the gaffer what I can do.
“I was training for nine weeks, I was just hungry to get involved but that wasn’t the case. The break was good but now I am hungry and ready.”