Having broken our run of European locations for our pre-season sorties last year with a trip to the far side of the Atlantic, we return this year to mainland Europe with its westernmost capital city Lisbon playing host.

In fact, this is the second time we have based the pre-season training camp in Portugal: Almancil in the Algarve, some 270km further south, being our base nine years ago.

Lisbon (also known as the City of Seven Hills) is one of the oldest cities in the world (second only to Athens in Europe) and predates other European capitals by centuries.

Indeed, Julius Caesar gave the city’s inhabitants the right to become Roman citizens and called the city ‘Felicitas Julia’, which translated means ‘Happiness Julia’! I’m sure Cleopatra would have been extremely interested to know more about Julia! Lisbon is also known as ‘White City’ because of its Medieval facades.

Moving forward an odd two thousand years or so, Lisbon is now home to almost 21,000 millionaires. During my downtime, I’m now torn between tracing the Seven Hills, shopping at the Westfield Centre or befriending a few millionaires… I’ll let you know how I get on.

Apart from a no doubt intensive and productive programme of training for the players, we are here, as you know, to play two matches against teams that play in the Primeira Liga: SL Benfica who have never in their 120-year history been relegated from Portugal’s top division, and CF Estrela da Amadora who have just completed their first-ever season in that same league.

Benfica’s proud history includes having won 86 major trophies whilst they have appeared in 10 European finals. Whenever one thinks of Benfica, the name Eusebio automatically springs to mind. One of the greatest forwards of all time, he scored an amazing 733 goals in 745 games and earned the nickname ‘The Black Panther’. A statue to celebrate Eusebio’s illustrious career proudly stands outside the entrance to Estádio da Luz.

These pre-season training camps are also a great opportunity for players and coaching staff alike to re-bond after the between seasons break and to get to know those who have come on board in the intervening time, be they players or staff: Igor Thiago having joined the playing squad and Keith Andrews the coaching contingent, being prime examples.

Our first day, Monday, was mainly about travel, with the party of players and staff departing the Robert Rowan Performance Centre just after midday following an early morning training session, for the flight to Portugal.

Having arrived late afternoon and completed the airport and hotel formalities, it was time for dinner followed by a meeting to run through the itinerary for the week ahead.

Prior to our departure we were told we may have to wait outside the terminal as someone was arriving. I’m really not at liberty to say who that person was other than to say he was probably “Born in the USA”!

It wasn’t until yesterday, Tuesday, that the training, which matched the weather here – intense – got underway. It was a really gruelling day for players and coaches alike, with sessions which wore me out just watching them.

But of course, it’s all about the long-term benefit. It included the infamous 1km test which all players must do upon their return. Trust me when I say it isn’t just 1km - that part comes at the end of multiple runs before finally being timed. Needless to say there are expectations.

Going forward, I will do my best to keep you up to date with what’s going on both from a training and playing perspective, and also anything else that I believe may be of interest to you, the reader. Until next time… “Vamos, Abelhas!”