Stoke City defender Ben Gibson has reflected on his side’s defeat against AZ Alkmaar, pre-season and his start to life at the bet365 Stadium
Ben Gibson has admitted he cannot wait for the new Championship season to get underway after Stoke City ended their pre-season campaign with a 1-0 defeat to AZ Alkmaar.
Former Tottenham forward Troy Parrott scored the all-important match-winner as the Potters were beaten in their final game before entertaining Coventry on the opening weekend next Saturday. It means Stoke won four and lost two of their six pre-season matches, with the other defeat coming against Stockport.
Reflecting on the defeat to AZ, Gibson said: “I thought it was a good game, a really good test for us, really good opposition. We have had mixed opposition so far, so it’s really good to test yourself against European opposition. They are really good at what they do, it presents different solutions to deal with.
“It was an interesting test, a good workout for the lads and it tees us up really well going into the season. There were positives, lots of things to work on but we are going into with – hopefully if Sam [Gallagher] is already – most fully fit and we are really excited for the game next week.”
Attention for the Potters now turns to their Championship curtain-raiser against Coventry and Gibson is excited to make his competitive debut in front of the home supporters, if he is selected.
He added: “I can’t wait, I have been here as an away player, looking forward to it, hopefully this place is rocking and I am going to see it at its best. Hopefully we can use that energy to start the season really well and really bright.
“I am really excited and all the boys are chomping at the bit. These friendlies are all well and good but the real stuff starts now and we cannot wait. This is what we work all summer for and now it’s just around the corner.”
Gibson joined the Potters earlier this summer on a three-year contract after leaving Norwich. He has spent a full pre-season with his teammates and is settling into life in Staffordshire.
The 31-year-old continued: “It’s been good, I have had plenty of time to know the lads, I was in nice and early. Pre-season has been tough but we have spent good time together, a lot of time on the grass.
“There has been a lot of things that we have already worked on yet still have to work on, so it’s been really good, there is a really good feeling around the place and we have to take that into Coventry next week now.”
