Mateusz Klich on an 'intense' pre-season for Leeds United ahead of Premier League return under Marcelo Bielsa
The Poland international has discussed Premier League preparations at Thorp Arch.
Mateusz Klich has admitted that his third pre-season under Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds United has been the most intense yet.
The Whites are in the middle of preparations for their first Premier League campaign in 16 years following promotion from the Championship last term.
Following the mid-season hiatus and delayed finish to the 2019/20 term due to the coronavirus pandemic there is a quicker than usual turnaround this summer.
United have bolstered their senior ranks with the acquisitions of Valencia forward Rodrigo and Freiburg defender Robin Koch opting for quality over quantity int he transfer window.
Bielsa's men will begin the new top flight campaign with continuity playing a key role in their assault on England elite and Klich says preparations are harder than ever before.
“I think this one is the most intense and hardest one yet,” Klich said of pre-season training.
“Obviously, we didn’t have much of a holiday, but to be fair I couldn’t wait to start the next season, so I didn’t want to have any more holidays.
“Some of the boys have played in the Premier League already, but I have never been and for me it is going to be a nice experience playing in the best league in the world and I can’t wait."
Klich saw a run of 92 consecutive league starts for Leeds end in the penultimate game of the season at Derby County.
Asked whether he could do something similar in the Premier League, he said: "That would be amazing.
"The Premier League is a little different to the Championship and I think it is going to be harder for us.
“As I said, though, we just can’t wait to start and we will see what happens, we have a good team and we are very fit and it is going to be a nice ride.”
The 30-year-old will this week link up with Poland on international duty as a number of United players travel to represent their countries.
England manager Gareth Southgate has handed a first chance to Leeds-born Kalvin Phillips, who take on Iceland and Denmark in the Nations League.
Klich, though, has one burning question for the defensive midfielder.
“I’m very curious what his first initiation song is going to be next week," he joked.
“I’m very happy for him, he’s a great player. The England national team is going to be the future for him I have no doubt."