Metallurg Donetsk, one of the top Ukrainian football teams, is the latest side to hold their mid-season training break at La Cala Resort in Mijas, Malaga. The team is from the city of Donetsk and currently plays in the Ukrainian Premier League. Head Coach, Nikolai Kostov, says the main aim of the training break was to ‘bed-in’ a new squad with a lot of recently-signed players. “This break gave us the opportunity to blend together as a team and unite. We have a lot of new players and it is important for them to get to know each other and a foreign trip allows us to do that better than at home. Our goal this season is to qualify for the UEFA Europa League and I’m hopeful that this trip will help us to do that.

“This was our first time to stay at La Cala Resort and we were very happy with the conditions. The food and the nutrition provided was very, very good and another big advantage is the relaxing surroundings. It is so calm and beautiful here and mentally that is very beneficial for the players. We also had the opportunity to play three friendlies during our stay. At the moment it is -10C in Donetsk, so training is quite difficult and these matches are important for the coaching staff to monitor how the players are progressing as a team.”

Teams from Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Switzerland and Russia are also using the resort’s training facilities this mid-season. Many of the teams are regular visitors and are attracted back by the mild winter climate, the extensive range of facilities and the secluded location that offers privacy yet is near Málaga airport. Additionally, the teams have exclusive use of the grass football pitch, access to the full range of the resort’s facilities, including the gymnasium and luxury Caracala Spa and their diets are prepared in consultation with the catering staff.