In recent years, well-paid Premier League footballers feel plenty of pressure to be the perfect athletic human specimen.Unless there's an international tournament in which they are chosen for, said players get a few weeks off over the summer to enjoy themselves amongst family and friends.Away from the watching eyes of their coaches, some footballers understandably indulge in some fine food and drink.It can however leave them a little out of shape upon return to pre-season training, as Wayne Rooney will have witnessed when he linked up with his new Everton teammates.31-year-old Rooney was often mocked for his "dad-bod" during his time at Manchester United but looked fit as a fiddle next to new teammate Ashley Williams.Formerly of Swansea City, the 32-year-old Welsh defender was carrying a little bit of extra weight and will surely have to endure a gruelling July in order to get back to full fitness.Unfortunately for Premier League footballers, the world of social media is a very unforgiving place for those in the limelight.Ashley Williams was mocked fairly mercilessly by fans, with some even suggesting that his wages should be held back until he can get back in shape.He made 36 Premier League appearances under Ronald Koeman last season and is expected to be a key member of the first team in the upcoming campaign too.
Manchester United midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan was subjected to similar treatment after a photo emerged of him in the 2017/18 home kit last week.The club quickly deleted the tweet featuring Mkhitaryan but the damage had been done, with the Armenian superstar labelled "14 weeks pregnant" by fans online.See the (brutal) tweets taking aim at Ashley Williams below.
After a home opener against Stoke City on August 12th, Koeman’s side face successive league games against Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United.
Ashley Williams said: “It could be good to get them out of the way early.
“But hopefully people look at us and think that’s going to be difficult. The next aim for us is to get into the top six."
The Blues finished 7th last season but will have to cope with the loss of top goalscorer and new Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku.