Bournemouth's Simon Francis enjoyed the recent trip to Dubai
Thursday 7 April 2016 15:12, UK
Simon Francis believes the technology at AFC Bournemouth's training camp in Dubai was up there with the very best in the world.
The Cherries squad traveled to the Nad Al Sheba sports complex in the United Arab Emirates during the recent international break.
Francis, who has played the majority of the season at centre-back over his favoured right-back position, spoke highly of the facilities in Dubai.
He told the Bournemouth Daily Echo: "The facilities were second to none and the best I have come across.
"There were so many things I just hadn't seen before and if anything, it wasn't long enough to use everything."
Bournemouth got off to a slow start against Manchester City on Saturday in their first game since going to Dubai and ended up on the wrong end of a 4-0 scoreline.
However, Francis defended the trip so late in the season.
"For me, it is an added motivation," he said. "You go out there to train at top facilities, you want to get used to those things, improve even more and get results on the back of it."
The 31-year-old is playing in his first season in the Premier League and the former Charlton and Southend defender admitted technology has come on leaps and bounds since he started out at Bradford City.
"When I was younger, the closest you'd have got to a cryogenic chamber was a wheelie bin filled with cold water," he said.
"That was about as high-tech as it got back in the day but the game has moved on so much."
Eddie Howe's side sit 13th in the Premier League and are in action this Saturday against Aston Villa.
