Robert Snodgrass - Norwich City need a tough pre-season work-out.
Ricky van Wolfswinkel made his Norwich City debut in the 1-0 friendly defeat to San Jose. Picture: Lyndsay Radnedge/Center Line Soccer. - Credit: Archant
Robert Snodgrass is adamant Norwich City will reap the benefits from a tough pre-season schedule.
The Canaries slipped to a 1-0 defeat at San Jose in the first of two tests against MLS opposition to round off their USA tour.
City wrap up their Stateside visit against Portland Timbers later this week as they look to build towards Everton's opening day Premier League visit on August 17.
'You don't want to be playing against opposition at this stage and beating them five or six,' he said. 'You want to be testing yourself all the time because this is what the Premier League is all about. You get tested week in, week out. I think you want that as footballers. I know on a personal level I want that challenge because I set myself targets and goals that I want to achieve. You want to try and do it against the best.
'San Jose were a little bit tougher than the side we played the other night and that is the way it should be. Pre-season is all about fitness. There is no other way to look at it.
'Getting beat is a test of character, and we know we have to put on a better performance against Portland.'
Snodgrass was introduced after the break as one of six initial half-time changes from Chris Hughton but City were unable to break down a well-drilled Earthquakes' outfit.
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'It was a tough workout. I think you could tell watching that game they were a little further ahead than us in their season,' he said. 'I think something like two months ahead. You could see from the first whistle pretty much they looked sharper, stronger and especially second half they kept going. The gaffer looked to bring on fresh legs, me included, and sometimes that is difficult to go into those type of games and make an impact as a sub, especially with the tempo they set.
'You could tell they were fitter and sharper. It wasn't a good result but at the end of the day the object of the exercise was to get some more minutes under our belt and some tough games coming up back home.'
