Brentford’s First Team staff and players return to the UK tomorrow after a highly productive and successful mid-season break in Dubai.
The opportunity was mooted a few weeks ago and with no midweek games for The Bees this week, plans were swiftly put in place for the four day warm weather training break.
All of the First Team squad, with the exception of Kevin O`Connor who stayed at home for personal reasons, travelled to Dubai together with the coaching and medical back up staff.
Club Owner Matthew Benham has also been in the United Arab Emirates city-state.
He has stayed with the team in the Hotel.
Matthew said: “It`s been a great opportunity for the players to take time out from what has been a punishing but pretty successful schedule of games.
“The training facilities on site here are excellent and regularly used by some of the top teams in Europe.
“I understand Sunderland are here next week.
“The trip was designed to re-charge the batteries and prepare the players for the second half of the season.
“The players are enjoying the mix of training in a different environment and relaxing in a warm and, certainly, more enticing climate”.
Striker Farid El Alagui is continuing his rehabilitation from a long-term knee injury in Dubai.
He said: “I`ve continued my daily schedule of rehab work with [Head of Medical] Neil Greig, which is progressing very well, and the opportunity to do so in a warmer climate has helped immensely as opposed to the wintry conditions we have been used to.
“All the players are grateful for this opportunity”.
A few hours ago, on the last evening in Dubai, Matthew Benham addressed the players and staff and spoke of his background and the origins of his involvement in the Club and continued with a thought provoking and inspirational address.
The players will have a morning training session tomorrow, Thursday, before they fly back in the afternoon, Dubai-time, and train as normal at the Club’s Jersey Road Training Ground on Friday.
The trip has given the players a chance to recharge their energy levels and rest their bodies before the run-in to the end of the 2012/13 season.
Brentford Manager Uwe Rösler is delighted with how the winter training break is going.
Uwe, speaking to the Brentford FC official website, said: “I am delighted with the trip so far.
“The hotel and the training facilities are geared towards what the top professional teams need.
“Spartak Moscow used the same hotel and training facilities last week.
“There are two grass pitches and they are of first-class quality.
“The Hotel is five minutes from the pitches and caters for what professional athletes need.
“The boys are working hard in glorious conditions and they are enjoying it.
“We have also been able to do some good analysis work on forthcoming opponents.
“It has been a very beneficial trip and I am delighted with how it has gone.”
Uwe added: “This type of trip is very important.
“The boys have had one night off, where they could go out for dinner together and they have all worked hard when we have needed them to.”
Mark Warburton, Brentford FC Sporting Director - who outlined the reasons for the trip earlier this week, has remained in the UK.
Mark is currently working to bring a player in the Club on loan.