Portugal won't be a holiday - Hamshaw

Last updated : 30 June 2025 By Millersmad

The players jet off for pre-season camp in Portugal this week, and Matty Hamshaw aims to gel his team but its no holiday.

"It’s about everybody getting to know everybody and that’s important for me.

"Because I don’t think there was much camaraderie among the group (last season) and it’s my job to instill that because you are only as strong as your weakest link.

"I need, whoever the weakest link is, to be as best as they can be. That’s important.

"I want players to know about each other. I want them to know if they have got kids and got girlfriends.

"Sometimes, you don’t get a lot of that and that brings everybody closer to strive for a goal you are looking to achieve."

Hamshaw might not have all his team with him however.

"In an ideal world, you’d have everybody in and you’d all go. But we all know that will never happen.

"We might have the majority or two or three who fly over there to meet us; we might not have as many as I’d like.

"We haven’t stopped this summer. My wife was laughing that I was on the phone most of the time out in Greece (on holiday).

"But that’s what it takes, it’s 24/7 and making sure you don’t miss anything out."