15 June 2014 - Utrecht, Netherlands
The summer preparation period had been carefully planned and comprehensive, balancing the need for physical and mental recovery after the historic double achievement with continued development and preparation for the challenges that would come with defending titles and competing in the Champions League for the first time in Utrecht's history.
The rest and recovery period had been essential and restorative, allowing time for the body and mind to process the extraordinary demands of the previous season while maintaining the fitness levels required for optimal performance at the highest level of European competition.
The individual training program had been designed by Utrecht's fitness staff in collaboration with sports science experts, focusing on maintaining peak physical condition while addressing specific areas for improvement that had been identified during the European campaign.
