After a carefully planned pre-season schedule, Ben Nelson first completed physical training in the UK and then went to Austria for an intensive individual training camp. He is full of anticipation for the upcoming 2025-26 season.  

This Sunday, Fiorentina will visit the King Power Stadium for their final friendly of the summer. The following week, Sheffield Wednesday will also be there for the opening weekend of the Sky Bet Champions League. This is an exciting moment for the players who have worked so hard. Now, they can begin to look forward to implementing the tactical philosophy of new head coach Matí Cifuentes in a competitive environment.  

Ben Nelson reflected on the nine-day training camp in Austria: "It felt great to be able to temporarily get away from the team environment and deepen the relationship with my teammates. The three games gave everyone a good opportunity to practice and also helped everyone to better train their legs."  

"The time I spent with everyone was very effective. The training was intense and tactical, without too much running, which was great! We focused more on possession and how we trained in that way."  

The player played in two friendly matches last Friday, first against Karpathy Lviv and then against Cologne. He said: "I played in both games and played 30 minutes in each game. It was a big challenge to stay in the team after the first game and play in the next one, but it is also a process of growth."  

The time spent with his teammates and the new head coach was very beneficial for Ben Nelson. He said he cherished the opportunity and gained a deep understanding of the core focus and tactical approach for the 2025-26 season.  

Ben Nelson said: "We have a very close relationship and it was necessary to integrate into the team quickly. As we spend more time together, you will appreciate his love and passion for the game and his philosophy. The head coach gave me confidence from the first day. He was able to clearly communicate his requirements. Only when you have confidence in yourself can you perform well in the game."  

“We are now preparing for our home games, especially this big game at the King Power Stadium, which is the first of the season. We have a really strong opponent this weekend and I’m sure we can do well. It will be a great test for us going into the season. I’m really looking forward to meeting all the fans at the King Power Stadium and in the away games. It’s going to be a great time.”