Brentford players and coaching staff flew to Dubai this week and Brentford manager Uwe Rösler spoke to Bees Player on Friday of the positive benefits such a mid-season training camp brings.
“I think it was a very good trip; the players earned it, from my experience as a player over many years, especially in England, and seeing now what the big clubs are doing, to go at that time of the year for a few days in the sun, having good training sessions, with good facilities and pitches.
“Getting sun, when you don’t get much in the UK this winter, and to do some team bonding, is very important.
“For me, it was the training camp was a successful one but we have to prove it now on Saturday and on Tuesday.
Bury arrive at Griffin Park this Saturday in the bottom four but Uwe revealed he expected a tough encounter.
“They beat Doncaster Rovers so that says it all; I think our league is very unpredictable.
“Bury will come and park the bus, go on the counter and they are strong on set pieces; they are a fighting team and will make it very difficult for us and we have to cope with that if we want to stay up there.
“I think we are well prepared mentally and physically for what will come up and it’s just now to execute that and perform on the day.
“That was also one of the reasons why I wanted to take the players away; we had training sessions but also analysis sessions in the evenings.
“When we have from Saturday to Saturday to prepare, each day leading to the match day – the most important day – in general, we’re doing very well but when we have the crazyness of week-in and week-out it can make it sometimes very difficult.”
Paul Dickov, a close friend of Uwe’s, was dismissed as Oldham Athletic manager this week, with the Brentford boss giving a glowing reference to the work he did at Boundary Park.
“Paul did a fantastic job at Oldham Athletic under very difficult circumstances; the wage bill at Oldham is one of the lowest in the league.
“Over the years he did a very good job, playing the game in the right way and I’m bitterly disappointed Oldham didn’t see the quality in such a young promising manager that Paul is.”
A full video interview with Uwe Rösler is available for Bees Player subscribers.