Premier League Stars Face Ultimate Test of Fitness as Season Crunch Time Approaches

The Premier League title race in 2010 is the closest in years, with 3 of English football’s leading teams all still in with a strong shout of claiming the biggest prize in English domestic football. Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal face a fight to the wire to see who will claim the Premier League crown, and as the games come thick and fast as season approaches crunch time, fitness levels of the club’s top stars are certain to play a key part in deciding who will take the season’s big prize. Although the majority of the Premier League’s leading sides now have extensive squads and player rosters at their disposal, maintaining the fitness levels of key players is paramount at this critical stage in proceedings – and their daily fitness regimes play a critical part in maintaining their optimum performance levels week in week out. As well as drills on the training ground with their fellow squad members, premier league players also face gruelling fitness programmes in the gym – completing aerobic workouts on the treadmill, exercise bike and commercial cross trainer amongst others - as they seek to gain a competitive edge over their league rivals. At this level the smallest margins can often decide the final results of matches – with Manchester United in particular famed for their goals at the final stages of games as their superior fitness levels and concentration come into play over some of the leagues less established opposition. Likewise, much has been made in the English tabloids of the “maturity” of Chelsea’s squad in comparison to their title rivals – with players such as Michael Ballack seemingly reaching the latter stages of their career. With key aspects such as this in mind, it seems very possible that the fittest team may indeed be the one that goes on to claim this season’s title.

Injury Rules Beckham Out Of England World Cup Squad

England veteran David Beckham now sadly looks certain to miss out on the World Cup in South Africa this summer following news that he will need surgery on an injury to his Achilles the player sustained while playing at loan club Milan. The player’s shin guards were not enough to protect the right winger from the heartbreaking injury blow, and he now looks set to miss out on becoming the first England player to make appearances at four separate World Cup competitions. However, although the England star - who is well known for his style and dress sense both on and off the field - will not be donning his own range of soccer shoes (the excellent David Beckham Adidas Predator Absolions) at this summers World Cup, recent newspaper reports amongst the Italian footballing press suggest that AC Milan Vice President Adriano Galliani will invite Beckham back for another chance to showcase his skills in Seria A next season should he sufficiently recover from this latest injury setback. Players across the major leagues in Europe are looking at ways to better protect themselves whilst playing without sacrificing flexibility and comfort, and the latest Puma King Shinguard have been developed to allow breathability and comfort whilst maximizing protection and minimizing the chance of impact injuries.

Capello Stamps Foot Down Over WAGS and Player Excess

England manager Fabio Capello has continued his famous hard line approach to man management by criticising the excesses of professional footballers in the English game. Speaking before this week’s 3 - 1 friendly win over Egypt at Wembley, Capello condemned the Hollywood lifestyles of professional players in the modern day arena, and was quoted as saying “the private life is a big problem for some players.” Although the Italian admitted that he believed that the problem was not rooted purely in English football but also across the other top leagues in Europe, he expressed his personal dissatisfaction at the way some young players acted off the field, stating that the large quantities of money associated with playing at the top level was potentially having a negative impact on their careers and development - particularly on young individuals within the game. Capello has already openly dictated that the players WAGs (wives and girlfriends) - who are famous for there lavish lifestyles, designer clothing, fashionable sports sunglasses and lives in the media spotlight - are not welcome with his playing squad at this summers World Cup, and that he wished them to keep a much lower profile than they famously held under the tenure of former coach Sven Goran Eriksson. Off the field issues have blighted the England squad in recent weeks, with revelations about the private life of John terry and Ashley Cole taking up tabloid inches that the England boss would have much preferred to be reserved for on the field performances after a successful qualifying campaign in the build up to this summer’s world football showpiece.