Ebbsfleet return to Portugal on Sunday for their annual warm-weather training
camp.

The club’s pre-season started on Thursday when the players reported back for testing.

Fleet now begin a week of intensive training which manager Daryl McMahon believes will stand them in good stead both physically and mentally.

He said: "It’s been excellent for us in the previous two seasons.

"It enables us to do two or three weeks’ training in one week and it forces players together for a week in terms of new players coming in and getting to know people in a nice environment.

"The weather allows you to train two or three times a day and we’ve also got a game over there against Shrewsbury so it’s a nice way to start the pre-season campaign.

"We were a fit team last season, mentally as well as physically. There were games when we were winning 1-0 in the last minute and got put under a bit of pressure, like the final, when we defended ever so well.

"We didn’t flake at any time, physically or mentally. That comes from a will to win and pre-season plays a big part in that because you come back on day one and someone new has come in to compete for your position.

"That rivalry from day one, I think we managed to carry it throughout the season. People trained as they played during the week.

"Once you have that mindset as a group, that you train how you play, I think if you take that into the games, that will to win and togetherness is key."