Collins: Squad togetherness, driving standards and impact of new additions | OneFootball

Brentford defender Nathan Collins has revealed how close the squad are following a successful pre-season tour in Portugal.

The Bees returned to London on Tuesday after an intense 10-day training camp which included a 1-1 draw against Primeira Liga side Gil Vicente on Friday evening.

As well as making it more enjoyable, the Republic of Ireland centre-back explained how those close relationships have helped to drive standards and welcome new additions into the group.

“It’s been good, very tough and very enjoyable on and off the pitch," he said. "It’s been great craic.

"We’ve gelled a lot, done a lot of activities together, and we’re looking forward to the season now.

"I think this season is one of the closest I’ve seen the team. This group is unbelievable."

He added: "We’re so together so for any player coming in, it’s easy for them to get in, make friends and feel comfortable in the group.

“Everyone gets on with each other and it leads straight to the pitch with people holding standards high enough.

"It doesn’t matter that you’re friends, the standards are high and everyone is pushing that. It’s very player driven and that’s very important."

The west Londoners have added Caoimhín Kelleher, Antoni Milambo and Jordan Henderson to the playing ranks this summer.

As well as that trio, assistant first-team coaches Mehmet Ali, Martin Drury and Neil MacFarlane have made a good impression alongside head coach Keith Andrews.

“It's been very enjoyable," Collins continued.

"I really like the new lads. I’ve known Keith a long time, I knew him from last season and years before.

“Neil I’ve seen a lot around the building but his energy is unbelievable. Martin has been doing really good things on and off the pitch, his attention to detail is very good.

“Mehmet has brought in a lot of good ideas and is making us very stable.”

Having played the first half of Friday's draw against club strategic partner Gil Vicente alongside Sepp van den Berg in the middle of defence, Collins also shared his thoughts on a first pre-season outing ahead of the 2025/26 Premier League campaign.

“It was nice to get back out on the pitch," he said.

"It was only a short 45 minutes for me but I think we were good, we were solid. I was comfortable with how we played.

"We did good things, the defensive shape looked stable and solid, we worked a lot from the back and it was a good run-out.

“We’re nowhere near where we want to be yet but it’s my first 45, it was a lot of the lads’ first 45, and we’ll improve from that."