## 4 Discussion
In addition, the players completed 1116.29 \(\pm\) 208.19 LACC actions, 234.65 \(\pm\) 88.84 HACC actions, 5132.37 \(\pm\) 896.56 LDEC actions, and 493.25 \(\pm\) 117.97 HDEC actions. In general, it is highly recommended to initiate a training period after a recovery phase progressively. This is followed by overexposing the athlete to achieve various adaptations and culminating with a tapering period to ensure that the athlete reaches peak condition for competition [19]. However, in football, where numerous factors come into play, achieving this can be challenging, and each external load variables may exhibit a different loading dynamic [21]. Regarding TD, week 1 presented lower values compared to weeks 2 and 3, but the week 1 values were similar to those of weeks 4, 5, and 6. This illustrates the progressive increase in this variable until reaching values close to those observed during in-season weeks [11], similar to the distance covered at jogging. In terms of cruising distance, there was a progressive increase during the first three weeks, followed by a noticeable decrease in the values covered at this intensity in the last 3 weeks. Concerning high-intensity variables (i.e., distance covered while high-intensity running, high-speed running, and sprinting), it is important to note that during week 1, the players covered very low distances to facilitate a progressive re-adaptation to high-intensity stimuli. This approach is taken to mitigate the risk of muscle-tendon injuries [22], especially in the hamstring muscles [23]. A progressive increase is observed until week 3, where the highest values in high-intensity variables are reached. Subsequently, a stabilization in the distance covered by these high-intensity variables is observed, aiming to adapt the footballers to the load they will face during competition [19]. This periodisation strategy enables football players to attain and maintain adequate physical condition values throughout the season while reducing the risk of injuries [24]. The periodisation of acceleration and deceleration actions in football has gained significant importance in recent years [25]. These actions play a crucial role in determining performance in competition [5], especially considering recent studies that highlight the direct relationship between these actions and the risk of injury associated with the calf muscles [26]. Regarding acceleration, both variables (i.e., LACCs and HACCs) exhibited a similar pattern, with low values being found in week 1 and the highest values being found in week 2, followed by a progressive decrease with a significant increase during week 6. This pattern is likely attributable to a tapering strategy, a short period prior to competition characterised by a reduction in training volume, focusing on high-intensity actions [27]. To achieve this, implemented strategies include the application of small-sided games on a smaller pitch and short sprints with fast accelerations. The decelerations followed a similar pattern, ensuring that during the pre-season, footballers are exposed to an adequate deceleration load to enhance their performance and mitigate the risk of injury [28]. Subsequently, the load is reduced to prioritise recovery from these stimuli, followed by an increase in exposure to deceleration to achieve optimal preparation. This study presents some limitations that must be acknowledged by practitioners. Firstly, the involvement of only one male football team makes it challenging to extrapolate the results obtained to other populations. Secondly, the consideration of only external workload implies a need for future studies that include internal workload (e.g., rate of perceived exertion or heart rate variation) to gain a comprehensive knowledge of the workloads of professional football players during the pre-season. Finally, it would be beneficial to include physical fitness tests before and after the pre-season to assess the effects of this periodisation on the physical performance of the players involved.