Thursday, 18th July, 2013

Fulham left-back John Arne Riise is determined to increase his fitness level before the start of the 2013/14 campaign.

The Premier League outfit are currently on a tour to Costa Rica as a part of the club’s pre-season schedule.



Fulham have already played a match against C.S. Cartagines on Sunday, which the Cottagers comfortably won 3-0 and the 32-year-old, who played a half, believes it was a good start to pre-season.

He told the club’s official site: “It is always difficult in that first game, but you focus on your fitness and I think we did well.

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“We have had a good pre-season so far. Obviously it is difficult to get over the jet-lag when you first get here, but we are working hard and getting used to everything here.

“The humidity is hard to train in, but during the match my legs were feeling good and hopefully I’ll just build on that.”

The altitude is playing a significant role in the club’s fitness process as Martin Jol’s boys are currently training and playing over 1,000 metres above sea level in San Jose.

Riise, who was a key member of Liverpool’s Champions League winning squad in the 2004/05 campaign, has also welcomed the new arrivals at Fulham, namely Maarten Stekelenburg, Derek Boateng and Fernando Amorebieta.

“If you speak English then it’s quite easy to come into this group”, he added.

“Obviously Fernando doesn’t, so it’s a bit harder for him but he’ll get used to us and he’ll find we’re a really friendly group.

“We always take people in and have fun, when we’re on the pitch we are focused on that but off the pitch we have fun together.”

The Norwegian joined Fulham in 2011 from Roma and has a year left on his current contract with the London club.

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