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Head Coach on valuable minutes in Staffordshire

2025-08-02T17:06:55.210Z

PARKER TALKS STOKE CITY FRIENDLY

Head Coach on valuable minutes in Staffordshire

2025-08-02T17:06:55.210Z

Head Coach on valuable minutes in Staffordshire

Scott Parker said he was pleased so many of his players managed to get valuable pre-season minutes in the legs with the squad split in two again on Saturday.

The Clarets' Head Coach was at the training ground in the morning before making his way to Stoke City for another pre-season friendly ahead of the side's Premier League season opener in two weeks time.

“It's another game for us, which I’m pleased with. Obviously, we split the group today, due to just getting minutes in. The number of players we've got, we just needed to get some 90 minutes in legs. We’ve managed to do that, so that's a real positive.

“Today’s game, there were some positives and obviously a bit disappointing towards the end because we’re all here, Stoke included, to try and get the best preparation. They’re a week out, we're two weeks out and obviously the game didn’t turn out like that because of the sending off, which was hugely disappointing. Overall, we looked a little bit tired, and I suspected that, we've had a tough week. But yeah, overall, we've got what we came here for.”

At this stage of pre-season intensive training and valuable match minutes are incredibly important but the Clarets had some logistical changes during this week's preparations

“The squad was split again. Obviously, a bit of a disappointment, we had a planned game, but we brought that in-house. That was a good game, I was there this morning, the boys did very, very well. We got 90 minutes out of a few players there as well. Then this game as well which was always planned.

“Overall, the planning of this weekend has changed drastically in the last 24 hours due to circumstances, hence why we came here with a real flat squad. But overall, minutes in the legs, that was a plus.”

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Another plus was centre-back Maxime Estève signing a new five-year deal with the Club this week and he's a player Parker says will play a big role again this season.

“Massively important for us. Obviously, I think we all know the quality that Maxi has, he's a vital part of what we did last year, and he’ll be a vital part this year as well. So, we're absolutely delighted to manage to seal a contract down. He’s an incredible football player and incredible person. He expresses that every single day really, so I’m absolutely delighted to have him with us, and the Club and Maxi are as well. Long may that relationship continue really.”

The Clarets take to Turf Moor next Saturday in their final pre-season game against Lazio and Parker's looking forward to the occasion.

“I'm really looking forward to it, in front of our fans who will no doubt come out and support us, very good opposition as well. So, looking forward to seeing us. We’ll probably start coming off the lads now, try and sharpen up a little bit over the next 10 days to two weeks, then getting ready for the season.

“The last game of pre-season, there will be maybe another one squeezed in, just again to accommodate some players just because of the sheer volume but we’re looking forward to it.”