Assistant coach Hansi Flick and general manager Oliver Bierhoff faced the media on Thursday in the first press conference since the Germany national team arrived at their pre-World Cup training camp in Passeiertal, South Tyrol. DFB.de rounds up the pair’s views on the camp’s facilities, Bastian Schweinsteiger and much more besides.
HANSI FLICK ON …
… the training schedule in the coming days: "The fitness levels differ from player to player. Some of them have been playing right up to last weekend, while others have had a week off. Everyone has a different threshold, so we’re working in several different groups. We’re training twice a day and all players should be out on the pitch at least once per day. We’re also doing individual sessions, but we’re starting off slowly. Next week we’ll start increasing the workload"
... Bastian Schweinsteiger: "He’s been given his own individual training schedule. We’ll have to wait and see how he copes. Our medical department is taking things very carefully. We hope he reaches a level of fitness that will enable him to help the team."
... the absence of Manuel Neuer and Philipp Lahm: "Both players are undergoing tests today and are due to arrive tomorrow. We assume they’re on the right track. Manuel in particular has shown signs of improvement, but it remains to be seen when he’ll return to training. It’ll do both players good to clear their heads while they’re here."
... a back-up plan for the goalkeeping position: "We’ll have to wait and see. Marc-André ter Stegen has been informed, he’s not going on holiday. We’re expecting Manuel to be fit and that we’ll be able to rely on him at the World Cup."
Das erste Teamtraining:
Passformen im Passeiertal
... the arrival of the Under-20 national team tomorrow: "It’s a fantastic experience for the lads to work so closely with the full national team. It’s great that they’re giving up their free time to come here and that everything’s worked out well. We’re also looking forward to putting our work on the training ground into practice in a match against another team. We’ll decide how long we’re going to play, but we want the games to be competitive. It’ll be good preparation for the World Cup."
... the conditions in South Tyrol: "The pitch is outstanding, the conditions really are ideal. We have a great opportunity to lay a solid foundation for the World Cup."
OLIVER BIERHOFF ON ...
... the atmosphere between Bayern and Dortmund players: "Thomas Müller and Mats Hummels had a bit of a disagreement while playing pool last night (laughs). No, we’ve not sensed any rivalry between the two sets of players – nothing that could damage our team spirit anyway. We don’t think there’s any danger of players falling out with each other. It’s good to show a competitive edge in training."
... Sami Khedira: "It would be brilliant if he was brought on in the Champions League final and helped his team to victory. He’s a role model for the other players and shows what you can achieve if you have the right attitude, keep focused and remain positive. When I saw him in hospital after he was diagnosed with a torn cruciate ligament, I could see that the only thing on his mind was to return to fitness in time for the World Cup. That proved to us that we had to keep believing in him."
... possible unrest due to transfer speculation: "We’ve had to cope with that sort of thing regularly in the past. Those rumours aren’t ideal ahead of a major tournament. None of our players will be talking to anyone while they’re on duty with the national team."
... an open training session: "It’s a bit of a balancing act – we have to do it, but we want to as well. We want to focus on training and make the most of the peace and quiet here. The biggest reward we can possible give our supporters is to win the World Cup, but we will be holding an open training session so fans can get to watch the team at close quarters."
... Passeiertal: "We were here in 2010 and were won over by the warmth of the people in South Tyrol, the food, the hotels and the open space. We’re happy to finally get to work – even the coaches are delighted to have all the lads together. The first day is always pretty busy, but we’re very happy here. Yesterday’s session reaffirmed our belief that the conditions are perfect here. The players have a chance to clear their heads before the action starts in earnest in Brazil."
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Assistant coach Hansi Flick and general manager Oliver Bierhoff faced the media on Thursday in the first press conference since the Germany national team arrived at their pre-World Cup training camp in Passeiertal, South Tyrol. DFB.de rounds up the pair’s views on the camp’s facilities, Bastian Schweinsteiger and much more besides.
HANSI FLICK ON …
… the training schedule in the coming days: "The fitness levels differ from player to player. Some of them have been playing right up to last weekend, while others have had a week off. Everyone has a different threshold, so we’re working in several different groups. We’re training twice a day and all players should be out on the pitch at least once per day. We’re also doing individual sessions, but we’re starting off slowly. Next week we’ll start increasing the workload"
... Bastian Schweinsteiger: "He’s been given his own individual training schedule. We’ll have to wait and see how he copes. Our medical department is taking things very carefully. We hope he reaches a level of fitness that will enable him to help the team."
... the absence of Manuel Neuer and Philipp Lahm: "Both players are undergoing tests today and are due to arrive tomorrow. We assume they’re on the right track. Manuel in particular has shown signs of improvement, but it remains to be seen when he’ll return to training. It’ll do both players good to clear their heads while they’re here."
... a back-up plan for the goalkeeping position: "We’ll have to wait and see. Marc-André ter Stegen has been informed, he’s not going on holiday. We’re expecting Manuel to be fit and that we’ll be able to rely on him at the World Cup."
Das erste Teamtraining:
Passformen im Passeiertal
... the arrival of the Under-20 national team tomorrow: "It’s a fantastic experience for the lads to work so closely with the full national team. It’s great that they’re giving up their free time to come here and that everything’s worked out well. We’re also looking forward to putting our work on the training ground into practice in a match against another team. We’ll decide how long we’re going to play, but we want the games to be competitive. It’ll be good preparation for the World Cup."
... the conditions in South Tyrol: "The pitch is outstanding, the conditions really are ideal. We have a great opportunity to lay a solid foundation for the World Cup."
[bild2]
OLIVER BIERHOFF ON ...
... the atmosphere between Bayern and Dortmund players: "Thomas Müller and Mats Hummels had a bit of a disagreement while playing pool last night (laughs). No, we’ve not sensed any rivalry between the two sets of players – nothing that could damage our team spirit anyway. We don’t think there’s any danger of players falling out with each other. It’s good to show a competitive edge in training."
... Sami Khedira: "It would be brilliant if he was brought on in the Champions League final and helped his team to victory. He’s a role model for the other players and shows what you can achieve if you have the right attitude, keep focused and remain positive. When I saw him in hospital after he was diagnosed with a torn cruciate ligament, I could see that the only thing on his mind was to return to fitness in time for the World Cup. That proved to us that we had to keep believing in him."
... possible unrest due to transfer speculation: "We’ve had to cope with that sort of thing regularly in the past. Those rumours aren’t ideal ahead of a major tournament. None of our players will be talking to anyone while they’re on duty with the national team."
... an open training session: "It’s a bit of a balancing act – we have to do it, but we want to as well. We want to focus on training and make the most of the peace and quiet here. The biggest reward we can possible give our supporters is to win the World Cup, but we will be holding an open training session so fans can get to watch the team at close quarters."
... Passeiertal: "We were here in 2010 and were won over by the warmth of the people in South Tyrol, the food, the hotels and the open space. We’re happy to finally get to work – even the coaches are delighted to have all the lads together. The first day is always pretty busy, but we’re very happy here. Yesterday’s session reaffirmed our belief that the conditions are perfect here. The players have a chance to clear their heads before the action starts in earnest in Brazil."
