Pinzolo, Day 6: Calcio tennis makes a long-awaited return!

The squad were back at Stadio Pineta in the afternoon, however, with Juan Jesus sitting down with the media prior to the day's sole training session.

“I think that last season was so-and-so for me, and I’ll be the first to admit that," Jesus said. "I have improved a lot, I’ve handled the criticism and always been professional. I took the criticism and responded with sweat and hard work.

"From December onwards I began to regain peoples’ confidence and I showed what I could do. I want to help the team achieve the most important aims.”

Read everything Juan Jesus had to say here.

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Training was a mixture of the sweet and sour for the squad - with the players divided into groups and forced to undergo a Bleep Test to ascertain their current levels of fitness.

The 'reward', however, was the first appearance of calcio tennis of this pre-season - a staple of training sessions for a number of years as the group gets down to work.

The social round-up

What was said?

After Juan Jesus's press conference, midfielder Maxime Gonalons spoke to Roma TV about his experience so far - while in the evening the Frenchman, along with coach Eusebio Di Francesco and Rick Karsdorp, visited the Trentino supporters club to answer fan questions.

We've only been here a few days but we've already had some really intense sessions. We're doing a lot of work on tactics too. I'm having a few difficulties with the language but my team-mates have helped me out there. I've started to learn a few football words and that's what I need most at the moment. They're easy and always the same.”

- Maxime Gonalons

Read more from Maxime Gonalons here.

"Football has changed a little in recent years, but nothing changes when it comes to the respect for the fans. We need to work together, we need to be united and do our part to raise the level."

- Eusebio Di Francesco

"I want to thank the fans for the faith they have already shown. I am learning Italian: my girlfriend is from Italy originally, Sicily. I promise to learn Italian quicker than Maxime!"

- Rick Karsdorp

What's happening tomorrow?

It's back to double training for the players - with sessions planned in the morning and afternoon.

Alisson Becker will hold a press conference during the day, while the coach will hold an audience with supporters in nearby town Madonna di Campiglio in the evening.