Last season was the most successful one in the history of the club. We have finished third, just behind Barcelona and Real Madrid, ahead of Valencia among other to qualify for Europe for the very first time. To be honest, in the beginning of the season I was hoping to finish sixth and thus to play in UEFA Cup so the bigger was my delight at such a great season. I have managed to gather a bunch of fantastic promising youngsters who should be able to further their game in the next few years.

The pre-season started with setting the objectives for the forthcoming year. The board, who had offered my a new contract a few weeks earlier, said they wanted to get a respectable position but I said we would qualify for Europe through league finish. In order to achieve my goals I was given 17 million euros for the transfers but I didn't intend to spend much. I got rid of a few players who disappointed me either with poor form or with lack of improvement I had been so hoping for. The most vulnerable areas which needed strengthening were goalkeeper, both full backs and right midfielder/winger. With the exception of the goalie where I was in need of a solid and decent player the remaining positions required only quality back-up players as the season was going to be long and tiring.

The set of friendlies planned for the pre-season was quite interesting. We started our preparations with a home game against Braga, last year's UEFA Cup semi-finalist, which after a good display we won 3-1. Next, we played against Manchester United, at home as well. The visitors deservedly won the match showing us our place in line. We still have a lot to learn before we become one of top European teams. Then we went to Poland to play with Jagiellonia. A 2-0 win should be considered a disappointment, particularly if you consider the number of chances we had and that we scored both goals towards the end of the match. After that we came back to the Iberian Peninsula. First, we won 1-0 at home against West Ham, and two days later, in an away game against Boavista and after a hard battle and an injury time goal we won by the narrowest of margins. The bad news was that we lost two of the important players for about a month, the good news, however, was that according to the bookies we were given, together with Villarreal, 33-1 title odds what made us fourth best team in the league. Ahead were only Barcelona, Real Madrid and Valencia. Moreover, the league matches with the said three teams were picked for live coverage. Then came friendlies with our affiliates Kladno (the most recent acquisition), Real Oviedo and Fairense, all away. A 6-0 hammering, and two entertaining 5-1 wins were the respective results. A week before the start of the league season we defeated Escobedo 2-0 in our ultimate pre-season match.

So, the pre-season was quite a success, however, some of the players picked up injuries and won't be available for selection for the first game of the season. Otherwise, I feel quite confident ahead of the new season as the players played really well, the new lads are blending well with the rest of the squad, some new tactical elements were practised and utilized, so I predict we will be even better a side than we were last year. Obviously, a good manager always looks to improve his team, therefore I've already started looking for the players that could join us in a year's time.

Because of the participation in Champions' Cup Group Stage we were given 4,4 million euros, however in the draw we were in the fourth bracket. We didn't have much luck in the draw as we ended up in Group G alongside with Arsenal, CSKA Moscow and Dinamo Kiev. The other groups were: A: Ol. Lyonnaise, Chelsea, Fenerbahce, Lillestrom; B: AC Milan, Werder Bremen, M.Haifa, Feyenoord; C: Napoli, Malmoe, Zenit, Man Utd; D: Barcelona, Anderlecht, OB, Sporting; E: B.Jerusalem, Bayern, Grasshopper, Rangers; F: Marseille, Lazio, Real Madrid, Hoffenheim; H: Lech, Inter, Tottenham, IFK Goeteborg.

Meanwhile, the submitted squad list looked as follows (the info in the brackets is year of birth, nation, senior international caps/goals if applicable respectively):

Goalkeepers:
1. Kasper Schmeichel (1986, Denmark, 2/0)
Joined this summer from Man City on a free transfer. Very agile and great in one on one situations. His lack of height prevents him from dominating the area but he distributes the ball well. Should be a great asset to the team, most probably the first-choice keeper.
13. Koray Savas (1991, Turkey, 2/0)
Joined this summer from Besiktas for free. A decisive and brave keeper who's also very fit. Currently first-choice keeper for the national team, should be a stiff competition to Schmeichel.
25. Rafael Ponzo (1978, Venezuela, 4/0)
Joined from Girona on a free transfer in the summer of 2010. During that time has been very reliable and played in most of the games. However, he isn't getting any younger and so has to accept a new role of a back-up keeper.
Jesús Morales (1997, Spain)
Joined this summer on a free transfer from Real Madrid. A long term replacement for Ponzo. Has a great deal of talent, he's already excellent at dealing with crosses and coming off his line. Maybe one day he'll take Casillas' place in the national team.

Defenders:
2. David(1994, Spain)
An U-21 international attacking right full-back has been with the club for three years now. He's fast, composed, brave, hard working, has good concentration and technique; he knows how to dispossess an opponent; he's a capable dribbler and free kick taker. What else to expect?
4. Miroslav Kysela (1991, Czech Republic, 7/1)
Former Czech U21 captain, with the club for three years, bought from ESTAC for €200K. One of the best players at the club, not only is he a great left back, but also great free kick taker.
5. Iván Benítez (1988, Spain)
Joined this summer from Numancia for a record fee of €3.1M. Equally adept at playing at the centre and on the right side of defence. A solid player should become a good asset in the forthcoming season.
6. Driss El Omari (1992, Morocco)
Joined last season from MAS Fes for €250K. A tall and strong, yet agile central defender. It is very hard to get past him and he's great in the air. Clearly the best centre back in the squad.
12. Francisco Sánchez (1995, Mexico/Spain)
Singed for free two years ago from Atletico Madrid. A tall, strong and quick central defender who is a great prospect for the future. Despite the young age he's very reliable and rarely lets me down.
20. Pedro Lekue (1992, Spain)
A U21 international who's been with the club for 3 years having signed from Athletic Bilbao on a free transfer. Another promising centre back, who maintained good solid form throughout the season. Despite the young age he features in the starting eleven quite often.
23. Pablo Hernández (1993, Spain)
A U19 international signed for the club 4 years ago on a free transfer from Rayo. A solid right back who's always ready to step in if the first choice man is unable to play and make his absence almost unnoticeable.
24. Jorge Ribeiro (1981, Portugal, 9/0)
Signed this summer from Vit.Guimaraes for free. A solid left back who should provide great cover for Kysela. His main strengths are crossing, long shots, work rate and tackling.

Midfielders:
3. David Bandera(1989, Spain)
Born in Leon has spent all his career with Cultural. Equally capable as a central attacking midfielder and on the left side of midfield. Had a good last season. A creative player who scores important goals. He's one of the fans' favourites.
7. Gustavo Rodríguez (1991, Uruguay, 14/1)
Signed two years ago from OGC Nice for €1.2M. A wonderkid left winger. He's great at crossing and taking corners and laid 17 goals last season. Moreover, he's a great dribbler, has impeccable technique, and a great vision. One of the key players.
8. Martín Galván (1992, Mexico, 15/3)
A cultured central midfielder who signed for Cultural three years ago from C.A. Hidalgo for mere €35K. Makes up for the lack of height with his great technique, creativity and flair.
16. Konstantinos Psarris (1992, Greece, 3/0)
The club captain signed from Aris for free in 2011 and made an instant impact. A central midfielder who can play as a defensive midfielder or central defender. He's strong and brave; a great team player with excellent technique and dribbling, capable of scoring a few goals a season; deadly from dead ball situations.
17. Alejandro Domínguez (1992, Spain)
Came to the club in January 2010 from Valladollid for free. A competent right midfielder, extremely hard working with impeccable technique and great crossing ability.
18. Rui Tokala (1992, Angola, 1/0)
Signed from Aviacao for €250K this summer. An excellent attacking central or right midfielder. He's only weaknesses are the lack of speed, flair and only decent concentration. Otherwise, he's technique is almost perfect. Should be a great asset to the squad.
19. César Peixoto (1980, Portugal)
Joined two and a half years ago from Braga for €180K. A versatile player who can play as a central midfielder, left midfielder or left back. In addition to his technique he's one of the best free kick takers at the club and no one can shoot from distance better than he.
21. Antoni Lukasiewicz (1983, Poland)
Joined on free transfer in the summer of 2009 and has been an important first-team figure ever since. For the years was the club captain, now is the vice-captain. He's a great defensive midfielder who can play as a central defender equally well. One of the fans' favourite personnel.
22. Massimo Caravita (1994, Italy)
A U21 international who signed last season from Cagliari for €2.3M. Capable of playing on either side of midfield, however plays best as a central midfielder. A very promising player who made a great impact last season by scoring some important goals. The exposure to the first team did wonders to him and now he's one of the best players.
Manuel Martí (1997, Spain)
Signed from Levante on a free transfer. He's a long term replacement for Lukasiewicz. He's as fast as lightning, very agile, and has a good technique. However, it's still a long way to the top for him.

Forwards:
9. Jonathan Reguero(1989, Spain)
One of my first transfers, joined from Alaves on a free transfer in 2008. Former U21 international. One of the club's favourite personnel. A reliable, capable striker who knows how to score goals. Has always been an important first-team player. Three years ago won the Best Young Player of the Year award and was LIGA adelante top scorer.
10. Eduardo Manzisidor (1993, Spain)
Joined the club in 2009, current U21 international who's developing into a quality striker. Can be really deadly in front of the goal. He's not the world's quickest players but can play off the ball very well.
11. Zhao Xin (1993, China, 14/7)
Spotted by my scouts last year at U20 World Championship joined the club last year from Shenhua for €1.5M. He's already one of the best players at the club. He's fast, strong, composed, and despite being only 180cm high he's very good in the air.
14. Thomas Kutlu (1996, Denmark)
A last season's signing from FC Nordsjælland. Has the potential to be one of the best players in the world. He's already quite quick, strong, has good technique, a scoring instinct and free kick taking ability. The future is really bright for this lad.
15. Juan Manuel Moreno (1994, Spain)
Signed two years ago from Mallorca on a free transfer. A clinical striker who can also play as a central or an attacking midfielder. He's got great technique and flair, can play off the ball very well and possesses great acceleration. He's also U21 regular.
Manuel Ferré (1994, Spain)
Has been with the club for a number of years but failed to make a league début yet. A versatile player who can also play as right or central attacking midfielder.

In the next part:
- the start of the league season
- the European début