Rosenior: Team Refreshed After Training Camp

Brighton & Hove Albion defender Liam Rosenior believes last week’s warm weather training camp has helped refresh the team ahead of the final eight matches of the season, as they enjoyed different surroundings and a change in weather.

The full-back showed his understanding towards the benefits of going away as a team, and touched upon last season’s training camp, which gave the Seagulls a lift in their successful promotion charge.

He said, “For me personally, it was really nice to get some sun, especially with how the weather’s been here for the past couple of weeks. It was really nice to get away, but more importantly, as a group.

“We did something similar last year and then went on an incredible run after that - we won five games in a row. When you have good relationships between individuals in the group, it makes you work harder for each other on the pitch.

“It’s a different environment when you’re out together. You spend more quality time with each other and we managed to have a few team meals together and bonded really well.

“It was great for the newer players as well, the ones who came in January, because they got to know the squad even better and it creates the togetherness that you need to be successful.

“You can get into a routine at home - it’s cold every day and you’re training at the same place - but you go away and all of a sudden you feel refreshed, because you’ve had that change of environment.

“We’ve got two home games now and hopefully the trip away will benefit us going into those important matches.”

Despite only making three league appearances for the Seagulls this season, but the experienced 33-year-old, who has played 141 games in the Premier League, believes his team-mates have grown in confidence and shown their quality.

“In terms of our confidence levels, we’ve improved as the season’s gone on. That’s a natural thing that happens - we had a lot of players without Premier League experience.

“I couldn’t wait for those players to realise they were good enough to play at this level, and I think they’re now showing that in their performances.

“We’ve only lost three home games all season - to Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City - and that goes to show how good our home form has been.

“They’re going to be difficult games for Huddersfield and Leicester, and hopefully they’re games that we can get a good amount of points from.”

After Albion’s back-to-back home fixtures, Hughton’s men play four of the top six in their remaining six games of the season - and Rosenior is focused on securing safety as soon as possible.

“You can’t look too far forward, you’ve got to just concentrate on each game as they come. Hopefully by that time, we’ll have enough points on the board and not be under the threat of relegation.

“That’s been the aim all season, without trying to plan too far forward. We knew that we wanted to get as many points on the board as quickly as possible to take the pressure off.

“It would be fantastic for us to be safe going into the last five or six games, and just be able to enjoy the games and focus on performing well, without the added pressure of relegation.”