Charlton Athletic players sharing their journeys – and not just in football – as part of Malaga training camp bonding

Dean Holden has provided extra insight into the training sessions and team-bonding exercises while Charlton Athletic are on their training camp in Malaga.

The Addicks face Leyton Orient in a friendly on Friday with the match against last season’s League Two champions split into four 30-minute segments.

And Holden has also placed great importance in his players speaking up – and not just on football matters.

“They are pushing physically and having to go to a dark place, sometimes, mentally, with some of the training we’re doing at this stage,” Holden told the South London Press. “When we get back and towards the end of pre-season then you tailor that into your training.

“The fitness levels that they came into this off the off season were really high, that’s allowed us to really push on now.

“Being away like this, for six days, together just allows you that extra bit of time.

“In terms of the training, it allows you to get a lot of training in and a lot of time on the grass. We’ve been doing a lot of physical type work in the mornings and then the afternoon has been around team play and technical work.

“We had them in the sea at 7am in the morning.

“There have been a lot of team meetings around the football side and how we want to play – keep re-affirming those messages.

“There has been a lot of player-led bits in meetings which I’m really pleased with. That’s the culture we’re trying to create. It’s not always coming from the coaches, it has to come from within as well. That’s building nicely. There’s still a lot of work to do but we’ve got good buy-in from the group on that.

“The spirit comes from the lads rooming together and spending every meal together. They are up at 7am. They are long, long days – plenty of time when they are in each others’ pockets.

“We’ve introduced a series, I suppose you’d call it, that will continue into the season. It’s about individual journeys. An individual will get up and talk about their journey. They can go into as much detail as they want – about their upbringing, family situation, some of the highs they’ve had in their life and career, as well as some of the challenges they’ve faced.

“The Wim Hof breath work we did yesterday morning, in the sea in the early morning, it is all evidence-based work that I truly believe in. It will help us.

“There is no doubt when you get a connection with somebody and you understand that person – maybe some of their challenges, their family situation, name of their wife, kids or girlfriends – then you’ll go to the depths with them. At some point in the season you might need that.

“We’re building on that. The training facility is outstanding – really good quality of pitches. Fantastic high-performance gym, which is important at this stage of the season.

“I’m really pleased with what I’m seeing from the group.”

PICTURE: KYLE ANDREWS