Steaua Bucharest enjoying pre-season at SGP

Wednesday 02 Jul 2014
FC Steaua Bucharest defender Florin Gardos believes St. George's Park has 'everything that you need to improve performance'
Romanian champions, FC Steaua Bucharest, are the first of a number of top domestic and European clubs to visit St. George’s Park as part of their pre-season training preparations. 

The Liga 1 side are undertaking a week-long training camp at The FA's £105m national football centre and will be going through their paces alongside Championship side Norwich City, also due at the site, later in the week. 

It is the second year Bucharest have used the Burton site for their pre-season camp and according to Romanian international centre-back, Florin Gardos, the centre has made a positive impression. 

“It is the best [sports facility] I have been to. Everything is good. We like the pitches they are amazing, we like the gym and the rooms are very good - everything is perfect.” 

Last season European giants Monaco and Galatasary trained at the site and other European sides are expected to visit the training home of the England teams later in the summer. 

Gardos said: “We have been here a second time now and I have heard since then that a lot of important teams from Europe have been here and are coming here. 

“Slowly people and teams have heard good things about this facility and are going to want to come here.”

The vast array of facilities on offer at St. George’s Park’s allows clubs to maximise their training and preparation, as Gardos explains: 

“We were at places where the rooms aren’t good but the pitches were good. Here, though, everything is perfect. We have everything we need. 

“We trained on the indoor pitch, which is very good, and also played on the pitch which has the Wembley grass. We have even used the medical facilities that you have – there is everything here that you need to improve performance.”

Follow TheFA.com/SGP for news of Norwich City's visit later in the week

By Thomas Coupland SGP Editorial Assistant