- Adrian is looking forward to returning to competitive action at the new London Stadium
- After missing the end of last season through injury, the No13 is fit and ready to play
- Spanish goalkeeper has thoroughly enjoyed the Hammers' pre-season tour of the United States
The Spanish goalkeeper missed the final few fixtures of the Farewell Boleyn campaign through injury, but has returned for his fourth pre-season with the Club fit and ready to play his part in 2016/17.
The popular stopper has been working hard with goalkeeper coach Chris Woods and Swiss youngster Raphael Spiegel – Darren Randolph is on holiday after his Euro 2016 heroics with Ireland – and is set to play his second match of the pre-season when West Ham tackle the Carolina RailHawks on Tuesday evening.
“I feel so proud to be one of the more experienced players in the dressing room,” he told West Ham TV. “This is now my fourth pre-season with West Ham United and I feel like an experienced player and I’ve been trying to help the new signings and to start working for the new exciting season.
“Of course we have a lot to look forward to. It was so hard to finish last season with a small injury because I like to play all the games, but it was a magnificent end to our history at Upton Park. Now we have an exciting new season in the London Stadium and everybody is waiting for the first game there.”
Now we have an exciting new season in the London Stadium and everybody is waiting for the first game there
Adrian has thoroughly enjoyed his time in the United States, including a week-long stay at the Seattle Seahawks’ VMAC training complex, and a sightseeing visit that included the iconic Space Needle and Pike Place Market.
“It is a little bit different this pre-season because we have been to two cities,” he continued. “I think we did well in Seattle, training in great facilities with the Seahawks with maximum power.
“We had a difficult result with the Sounders, but the most important thing is that the training was good for us and nobody got an injury and we are still getting fit.”
The next few days will see the Hammers work in the hot and humid surroundings of North Carolina in conditions akin to Adrian’s home city of Seville in southern Spain.
“It is difficult for me to say I am not adapted to this nice, hot climate because my last four seasons have been with West Ham, not in Seville, but it’s similar to Spain!” he smiled. “We have to adapt to this climate to train and play our match on Tuesday.”
In between training sessions, West Ham will take time out to watch Dimitri Payet play in the Euro 2016 final for France against Portugal on Sunday – and for Adrian, there can only be one winner.
“Of course we hope France get the Euro because everybody knows Dimi and we are happy for him also,” he confirmed. “I think everybody who watched the last Premier League season knows Dimitri Payet and now the rest of the people know Dimi from the Euro.
“He is showing what a top player he is. He is a magnificent player and scored great goals and every time he has the ball at his feet, he is a problem for the other team.”
“It is a little bit different this pre-season because we have been to two cities,” he continued. “I think we did well in Seattle, training in great facilities with the Seahawks with maximum power.
“We had a difficult result with the Sounders, but the most important thing is that the training was good for us and nobody got an injury and we are still getting fit.”
The next few days will see the Hammers work in the hot and humid surroundings of North Carolina in conditions akin to Adrian’s home city of Seville in southern Spain.
“It is difficult for me to say I am not adapted to this nice, hot climate because my last four seasons have been with West Ham, not in Seville, but it’s similar to Spain!” he smiled. “We have to adapt to this climate to train and play our match on Tuesday.”
In between training sessions, West Ham will take time out to watch Dimitri Payet play in the Euro 2016 final for France against Portugal on Sunday – and for Adrian, there can only be one winner.
“Of course we hope France get the Euro because everybody knows Dimi and we are happy for him also,” he confirmed. “I think everybody who watched the last Premier League season knows Dimitri Payet and now the rest of the people know Dimi from the Euro.
“He is showing what a top player he is. He is a magnificent player and scored great goals and every time he has the ball at his feet, he is a problem for the other team.”