​Wilson: Building connections is key Callum Wilson says Brentford’s week in Portugal has been about much more than building fitness.The striker believes the Bees’ pre-season training camp has provided the perfect opportunity for the new signings to gain a deeper understanding of Brentford’s culture, strengthen relationships with their team-mates and adapt to head coach Keith Andrews’ philosophy.”It’s been a really good camp, a really positive one,” Wilson began. “I knew what to expect. I knew what type of manager the gaffer is.”It’s been hard work, but this is what we’re here for and that’s what the emphasis has been.”It’s been really good to get to know new team-mates on a personal level when you’re with each other day in, day out.”Having spent years playing against Brentford, Wilson admitted joining the club has given him a new appreciation of the environment that exists behind the scenes.”The quality of the players and the honesty of the group, in terms of how close everybody is,” he said when asked what has stood out.”The culture, the environment. You don’t really know what it’s like on the inside until you get inside.”You can see that from the outside, but you can’t get a feel for it.”Being amongst all the lads, it’s such a great group. Everyone has been so welcoming. As new players we’ve been welcomed with open arms.”Wilson’s growing understanding with Mikkel Damsgaard during Friday’s training game reflected the wider purpose of the week: building relationships across the squad.”They’re fantastic footballers and they have such good quality on the ball – you just have to find the run,” he explained. “I did that today. We linked up really well, which is fantastic.”It’s about building connections and relationships, not just with certain individuals, but with all the different players throughout the squad.”Like I said when I joined, it’s more of a striking department as opposed to an individual within the team, so when people come into the team you know your role and the requests of the manager.”‘We linked up really well, which is fantastic. It’s about building connections and relationships with all the different players throughout the squad’Wilson believes the work completed in Portugal has prepared Brentford well for the next stage of pre-season.”We’ve gained valuable fitness. It will stand us in good stead going into the matches,” he said.”Training games, training with everybody, building connections, getting used to the training patterns and the set-pieces.”The whole philosophy and the demands that the manager and the staff have here.”The new players definitely have more of an understanding.”It’s been a camp based around the philosophy of the football club – the culture of it and what Brentford stands for.”As a player, you buy into that and play for the badge on the front. I’m looking forward with excitement.”