Tractors Head Coach Gru Reflects on Preseason Success Amidst Challenges

The head coach of Chelyabinsk’s Traktor, **Benoit Gru**, summarized the pre-season and discussed how the later end of the previous season impacted the team’s preparation.

**“Do you feel the pre-season is complete? Have you managed to evaluate everything and test the players, considering the late finish of last season and the influx of new players?”**
— That’s a great question. When our season ended later than those of other teams, I remember having discussions about when we should start preparing for the new season. I also consulted with specialists to determine how we could allow the guys adequate recovery time while still getting ready for the upcoming season. Ultimately, we prioritized recovery. That’s why we had the team return from their break on August 8, and I am pleased with what we achieved during the pre-season.

However, it is evident that we are lagging behind other teams in terms of both execution on the ice and physical conditioning. The ten-day gap in training and ice time compared to other teams is something we cannot make up, of course. Nevertheless, I am satisfied with our progress. I definitely know the team better now than I did on August 11, when we began our training. As I believe in establishing long-term plans for the season, I realize that the first month for us will be about piecing together how we should perform. Though I don’t particularly like the term «survive,» we need to get through this first month and aim to end up in a good position. There’s no doubt that we will continue to improve, but we have to see where we land after the first month of the regular season,” Gru said, as quoted by Traktor’s press service.