It has been an intense schedule as Aaron Ramsey has put the boys to work, building up to the start of the competitive action in August.
Joining Aaron in the coaching department are Tom Hutton and Chris Gunter. Chris, the former Wales international right-back, takes on the role of Assistant Head Coach and he spoke for the first time in Oxford colours during the camp in Spain.
A player for the likes of Reading, Nottingham Forest and more, as a coach he has been involved with the Wales national team since 2023 as well as earning his pro licence this year. He is delighted to have joined Oxford United and has been heavily impressed by the quality so far.
Speaking to OUTV, he said: “Coaching is something I have looked at since I was 27 when I started looking at the game in a different way. I’ve had the experience of the first team environment working with Wales, leading the younger age groups, and this summer I completed my pro licence. Having that mix of supporting and leading, I’ve had a really good acceleration over the last three years, and I feel in a good place to support in all different aspects.
“I’ve really enjoyed this initial period. It’s been really positive and there is quality within the team which has been impressive.
“This is such an important time. The work that we have seen gives an exciting feeling looking towards the rest of pre-season and then the start of the season.
“There's always a meaning to everything we do. Attention to detail is something that we're really big on as a staff and that's come out over the last couple of days. Seeing it through both lenses, I'll never fall away from the experiences that are in me from a playing point of view. I want to support the players on and off the pitch and try and make them better.”
With everything working towards the first competitive game of the season on Saturday 8 August, the work has been intensifying on the training pitch. With the first pre-season game on Tuesday away to Aldershot Town, Chris is looking forward to seeing the way the team can start to implement their ideas into practice.
He added: “Hopefully over the next three to four weeks before we kick off that when we get the chance to play games, when we're back and the fans come and see what we're doing, there is a real positive feeling moving towards the season.
“There's absolutely no reason why we can’t aim him, with the training that we're doing, the quality of the players that we've got, it's a really exciting time for everybody.
“I know we as staff, players and with the fans, it'll be it'll be a really enjoyable ride. Last season ended not the way you would always want to. That's football. Certain things happen that you're not always in control of. But what we are in control of now is what's happening on the grass every day, what the team looks like and the players giving absolutely everything.
“You never guarantee anything in football but if you're giving absolutely everything with the squad and the quality that we have, then there's no reason why we can't have, a really positive season.”
