11:56am Tuesday 7th July 2009
THE NEW season is still more than a month away but boss Gianfranco Zola has labelled this time the most vital period of all.
West Ham players’ are home from holidays now and they have thrust right into preparations for the next campaign by their manager.
Zola said: “This is the most crucial time of the year. We need to make sure we work well because it will have a lot of benefits in the future.
“It feels very good to be back, We are here very much willing and ready to start this new season.
"We have a lot of enthusiasm and are looking forward to getting started.”
The Italian revealed he enjoyed a break from football.
"I had a very, very good rest and like everybody else, I recharged my batteries to start the new season” he said.
Meanwhile, Zola has been praised by two young players who got their big break under him, last season.
Twenty year-old James Tomkins said: "I really enjoyed my run in the team. It's been brilliant.
"I've got to push on and keep improving and see where it goes from there.”
Jack Collison, 20, has said he loves the way Zola has the team playing.
“We have been playing some really nice stuff but we want to carry that on and improve individually and as a team in the new season" he said.
"Everything the manager has said since he has been here, he has lived up to and more."
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