SILVESTRI IN POSITIVE MOOD

FREEVIEW: MARCO SILVESTRI PRE EVERTON 30.7.15

Goalkeeper feeling upbeat about the new season...

Marco Silvestri says he is in positive mood going into the new season, and the goalkeeper has outlined a number of areas of his game which he hopes to improve during 2015/16.

The 24-year-old was one of United’s stand-out performers during his debut campaign in English football, featuring 44 times in all competitions and finding himself shortlisted for the Player of the Year award after a string of match-winning displays.

And head coach Uwe Rosler has already earmarked Silvestri as his number one for the new season, despite bringing in competition in the shape of Ross Turnbull and Charlie Horton over the summer.

Discussing the summer so far, Silvestri told LUTV: “I think it’s been a very good pre-season for us.

“We have played difficult matches against very good teams – Hoffenheim and Frankfurt were the best.

“We lost but I think that we have played very well.

“We can improve a lot more and we will work hard. Everyone has been giving 100% in training every day. Now we are ready for the season.

“I’m positive because I’ve seen the team every day. I think we have a very good team this year.

“We know the Championship is hard but we will try.”

Silvestri has been working with new goalkeeping coach Richard Hartis on several aspects of his game, including commanding his area and playing outside of his box.

“I’m working hard with the coach to improve my high catch on crosses,” he explained. “I know I have to improve and be a leader in the box.

“We have worked on that a lot and I want to improve my whole game every day.

“I’m not a top player and I’m young so I want to improve every day and work every day.

“I have to be part of the team and better speaking about the defending – the coach wants this and for me to command my box.

“Against Hoffenheim I think I went out of the box more than I did in the whole of last season. It’s a new style of play for me and I have to work on that.”

Silvestri has featured heavily in United’s pre-season so far, and he could find himself back between the sticks at Elland Road for Saturday’s final friendly of the summer against Everton.

“I think it’s a very good game – the first match back at Elland Road against a Premier League team,” he said.

“They will be very good to play against. We want to play well because it’s important to finish the pre-season well for the start of the season.

“I think it’s good for the new players to play at Elland Road for the first time.

“I think they feel good at Leeds United. They’re good guys and good signings I think.”

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