Why Do Managers Talk About 'Levels Required' in Preseason?
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Every summer, as Premier League clubs flood their training grounds with fresh kits and fresh faces, managers start using a particular phrase that sets fans’ imaginations racing: "levels required." But what exactly are these “levels” in preseason, and why is hitting them such a hot topic? We’ve heard Pep Guardiola mention it during his 2023 preseason, and Jurgen Klopp’s obsession with “fitness benchmark” talks before the season opener is equally well-documented. Behind this jargon lies a critical intersection of science, tactics, and plain human endurance.
The Context: Fixture Congestion and Fatigue
Modern football’s calendar is brutal. Post-pandemic scheduling hiccups accelerated fixture congestion — multiple games crammed into an ever-tightening window. For example, Liverpool played 63 games across all competitions during the 2021-22 campaign, including late Champions League fixtures amid a hectic domestic schedule. Players are asked to deliver peak performances repeatedly, often with just days between matches.
This relentless schedule creates a high risk of fatigue and injury. Managers’ mantra of “levels required” isn’t just about fitness; it’s about managing this cumulative load. Tactical instructions become impossible to execute under severe physical tiredness. That’s why preseason is more than just running laps — it’s a calculated buildup of fitness that matches the demands of the season.
Preseason Fitness and Squad Depth
Early in preseason, managers often stress “building a fitness benchmark.” This is not a vague concept. It’s about reaching specific physiological markers that guarantee players can maintain tactical intensity over 90 minutes plus added time. Think of the 2019 Manchester City preseason under Guardiola — they famously integrated Peloton recovery bikes and digital fitness partnerships into sessions to finely tune players' endurance.
Fitness benchmarks relate directly to squad depth. When the manager says “we need levels required,” they’re often referencing being able to field a full, high-energy squad in every game segment. Especially with inevitable injuries and suspensions, having multiple players passing fitness tests becomes a prerequisite. No manager wants to be forced into tactical downgrades because a key midfielder can’t hold their intensity after 60 minutes.
Digital Tools Shaping Preseason: Peloton and Recovery Bikes
Technology in preseason training camps has leapt forward. Clubs partnering with platforms like Peloton use recovery bikes not just as post-exercise https://www.empireofthekop.com/2026/08/19/inside-the-recovery-routines-that-keep-liverpool-players-on-the-pitch/ machines, but as real-time data collectors. This allows staff to monitor heart rate variability, power output, and recovery metrics. They help calibrate individualized “levels required” targets for fitness.
It’s important to flag a common mistake: many online sources scrape content mentioning Peloton or medical cannabis without context or fees. Let’s be clear — no official prices or fees around these services have been disclosed via club partnerships. We’ll never invent such charges here because it obscures the more critical science and player welfare discussions behind the tools.
Sleep Quality and Match Sharpness
Managers don’t just worry about milliliters of oxygen in blood or muscle glycogen; sleep quality has emerged as a frontline concern. Dr. Pedro Mendes, directly from Liverpool’s sports science team in 2022, emphasized how “home beds vs hotel routines impose a significant toll on players’ recovery.” The disruption of circadian rhythms during away trips can blunt reactive sharpness and reduce tactical responsiveness.
This is why the “levels required” aren’t just physical but holistic. A player might physically hit an aerobic threshold in training but remain ineffective in tactical drills if their sleep quality is poor. Some managers now insist on tracking sleep data in preseason, pushing for habits that promote deep REM cycles, ensuring readiness.
Home Bed vs Hotel Routine: The Hidden Factor
Footballers are creatures of routine. Familiar sleeping environments—i.e., their own beds—enhance sleep quality and thus next-day performance. When on away fixtures immediately after preseason, players face the challenge of rapidly adjusting to hotel beds and unfamiliar noise levels.
Sports scientists quantify this impact. A 2019 study involving a Premier League squad documented a dip in technical skills during training sessions that followed overnight hotel stays. Their “fitness benchmark” wasn’t just VO2 max or heart rate recovery but also subjective sleep quality scores.
This explains why managers sometimes push for longer breaks between games, particularly early in the season when preseason work is fresh. Tactical intensity demands not only aerobic capacity but also neurological freshness, enabling players to read the game sharply.
From Fitness to Tactical Intensity: The Manager’s Balancing Act
- Fitness Benchmark: Objective physiological targets players must achieve during preseason.
- Tactical Intensity: The ability to sustain high-speed, decision-heavy play as dictated by game plans.
- Match Sharpness: A blend of physical, neurological, and psychological readiness to perform match duties.
In the 2020-21 season, Klopp’s Liverpool famously highlighted how “levels required” represented the point where a player could seamlessly execute pressing triggers or positional rotations without lagging. Coaches track this using GPS data and repeated tactical drills, noting precisely when match sharpness begins to wane.
Summary: Why ‘Levels Required’ Matter in Preseason
- Combating Fixture Congestion: Managers set clear fitness and tactical standards to endure packed schedules with minimal performance drop-off.
- Establishing Squad Depth: Everyone needs to hit these levels so tactical plans don’t collapse when substitutes or rotation players come in.
- Incorporating Cutting-Edge Tools: Digital platforms like Peloton aid precise monitoring without guesswork or mysticism.
- Managing Recovery and Sleep: Prioritizing sleep quality and adjusting for environment changes help sustain cognitive and physical readiness.
- Ensuring Tactical Intensity and Match Sharpness: The ultimate goal is not just fitness but the ability to think and move as required for the highest level of play.
So the next time you hear a manager talk of “levels required” before the season, remember: it’s about more than running laps. It’s a complex, science-backed conversation about resilience, precision, and maintaining razor-sharpness through a brutal calendar.
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