Preparing for the season and basic training | Football Manager 2020 Football Manager 2020 guide, tips
Last update: 15 November 2019
Preparing for a league season in Football Manager 2020 is an extremely important period of time during which the team will need to practice and discipline players who have returned from time-off. It is worth remembering that players returning from time-offs are lazy - you should put them through intensive practice. Proper, both physical and mental, training will allow you to get satisfactory results at the start of the season and will significantly limit the risk of injury.
Morale
Morale is a factor that runs low after a long break in league games. The players who have just returned from a holiday have little motivation to work. Moreover, their team is under the leadership of a new manager and not everyone will be happy with you. Your task is to improve the mood in the team and properly motivate the players, so before each match it is necessary to hold negotiations that will increase their morale. Talk with your players as often as possible - this will surely produce better results for the team.
Conditioning
Every longer break in league matches affects the conditioning of your players negatively. This is why the players should work hard from the beginning, so they understand that the vacation is over, and the whole team has serious goals - taking a top position in the league table or qualify to one of the cups. The first two weeks should be dedicated to intensive conditioning. If possible, limit the rest to a minimum, but leave a day off after a match. After 3 weeks, you can begin to gradually reduce the intensity of training and maintain this state for another 2 or 3 weeks. The last weeks before a match should be a little lighter. Such training schedule is recommended because:
- After a long break from league games, players have to work hard to quickly return to good shape. During this period, you do not play sparring matches, so you can dedicate the whole effort to strength training.
- In the next stage you will start playing sparing matches, so the players have to work in the gym with less intensity.
- The final stage of the preparatory period should be lighter as in a while the league matches will begin and the players can't be overloaded.