ROSSONERE, FIRST FRIENDLIES COMING UP

AC Milan Women continue their work at the PUMA House of Football with intensity and focus. Although currently without the players called up for the European Championship in Switzerland (with a deserved mention for the Azzurre Laura Giuliani and Julie Piga, who are set to face reigning champions England in the semi-final), the Rossonere are pressing ahead in their build-up to the first friendly of pre-season, which carries an international flavour.

The first taste of match action for Grimshaw and her teammates will indeed take place in Switzerland. On Saturday, Milan will take part in a competitive triangular tournament against German side Nürnberg and Swiss outfit Zürich, two strong opponents who will provide a valuable test for a team coming off the back of a season marked by steady growth. "We can't wait," Head Coach Suzanne Bakker told us ahead of this weekend's fixture.

"We are now in our third week of training," the Rossonere boss continued. "The players have returned to Milan with great energy. We are not yet at full strength due to the European Championship, but with the support of several girls from the Primavera, we are working hard and with enthusiasm in the gym and on the pitch to prepare as best we can for the start of the season, both tactically and physically."

These are encouraging signs ahead of a campaign that promises to begin at full throttle. After the August friendlies, including matches against Rangers, Fiorentina and Chelsea, as well as the Women's Cup opener against Sassuolo, the season will continue at a high pace, with a 12-team Serie A that is shaping up to be highly competitive. "There is still plenty of time to get to know each other better," Bakker concluded. "The atmosphere in the group is excellent, and the new players have been welcomed warmly."

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