Di Matteo to work Villa hard in pre-season

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New Aston Villa boss Roberto Di Matteo will put his players through their paces on their pre-season tour of Austria, extending it by three days.

New manager Roberto Di Matteo will put Villa through their paces this summer

Roberto Di Matteo has extended Aston Villa’s pre-season tour has he looks to prepare Villa for the rigours of the Championship, telling the Birmingham Mail that ‘it’s going to be hard work’.

The Champions League winning boss has extended the length of the club’s tour of Austria from four to seven days, and he has also arranged a friendly fixture.

Di Matteo will be tasked with taking the club back into the Premier League

The Italian manager is looking to up the intensity of their pre-season trip to ensure that the players are prepared for a tough season, one where Di Matteo is expected to take Villa back into the top flight.

And the former Chelsea boss clearly believes in the virtues of an industrious pre-season.

New manager Roberto Di Matteo and New owner Dr Tony Xia

“I’ve actually extended the trip to Austria and I’ve managed to organise a friendly game as well,” he said.

“I’ve changed the pre season around a little bit. We’re starting a little bit earlier as well. I’ve reviewed and changed the schedule a little bit.

“It’s always a time where the players can get to know each other better. Me and the backroom staff get to know the players a little bit better as well as we’re obviously new.

“It’s going to be hard work for the players in the training camp there. It’s a time, when I was a player, I didn’t look forward to because as a player it means a lot of work!”

Di Matteo has previously managed Villa rivals West Brom

Di Matteo was announced as Aston Villa boss over two weeks ago, having been out of work since May of last year when he was sacked as manager of Schalke after just one season.

New owner Tony Xia had earmarked Di Matteo as his number one target to help take Villa back to the top flight at the first time of asking, and it is clear that the new boss will get significant backing from the Chinese investor.