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There is no doubt that René Adler's comeback from long-time injury was one the news stories in 2012. Having been signed by Hamburg from Leverkusen, he managed to reach his old performance levels in the league, which earned him a call-up to the German squad for their friendly match against the Netherlands in November 2012 (0-0).
Fast forward six months later, and 28-year-old Adler is back between the posts, an integral part of the DFB team that is currently in the United States for a two-game friendly series, with game #1 against Ecuador in Boca Raton on Wednesday, 29 May (14:30 h EST), and game #2 against the USA in Washington on Sunday, 2 June (14:30 h EST). Talking to DFB.de writer Steffen Lüdeke, Adler reveals all about goalkeeper training drills, competition among goalkeepers, and his methods to psyche himself up ahead of matches.
DFB.de: René, you were a monster in goal at training on Tuesday, driving your team-mates to despair…
René Adler: Yeah, wasn't I? (laughs) Well, I just love these crossing and finishing drills, with plenty of one-on-one situations at the end, like a battle of wits between keeper and forward. And I admit I love training, especially here where it's 30 degrees Celsius, on a carpet-like natural turf field that couldn't be better. Let's say that doing your job with pleasure helps the end product come out right.
DFB.de: How important is training for your self-confidence and, ultimately, your game?
Adler: I have this ambition to give my best at every training session. It would be unthinkable for me to run at half speed during the week and then try to go full steam ahead on match day. The objective is for me to get a little better every day. That doesn't always work, because some days you feel better than others, but generally I always make a point of focussing on my job and finding the right attitude. Only then can you approach "serious" matches in the right frame of mind.
DFB.de: Is club goalkeeper training any different from national team goalkeeper training?
Adler: There are some but not major differences. My coach at Hamburg is Ronny Teuber, who's just fantastic at finding ever new variations to a set of core drills, but basically we don't really want to reivent the wheel here. It all about dealing with crosses and corners, stopping shots, working on distribution, improving my footwork, and becoming a more athletic player. That's practically the same as what we do with Germany, only that we have far less time available. But the goalkeeping philosophy remains almost the same.
DFB.de: At Leverkusen, Rüdiger Vollborn helped you make Germany's Number One, at Hamburg Ronny Teuber was key in getting you back on your feet. How important is Germany goalkeeper coach Andreas Köpke for you?
Adler: Very important. "Köppi" is the one who prepares us for matches, providing us with opponent-specific information and giving us the mental security we need. Training with the national team really raises every player's level, no matter whether you're a keeper or an outfield player, simply because the bar is set so high. Germany have become one of the world's best sides, with plenty of stars, or at least budding stars. Which means that in every training session, you've got to focus one hundred percent on what's going on, 'cause you play with or against the cream of the crop. That's great for your personal and collective development.
DFB.de: Germany, they say, is the home of goalkeeping. However, when you started out your role models were Peter Schmeichel and Rinat Dassajew…
Adler: True enough, but that doesn't mean I wasn't interested in German goalies! Of course I also followed the Bundesliga, watching the way goalkeepers played, copying features I felt would improve my own game. However, I'd still say these two were my early idols. I mean Schmeichel is a totally different kind of keeper, I'll never play the way he did. But I was impressed with his physical strength, positive aggression, and jumping power. That's a keeper's strongest asset. When watching other keepers, that's what I watch out for – does he really jump or just let himself drop on the floor? I also liked the way Schmeichel commanded his box, as well as his readiness to take risks.
DFB.de: And Dassajew?
Adler: Well, his career dates back even longer, but I used to be – and still am – a big fan, watching youtube videos of his matches. It's fascinating to see his composure, self-confidence, and sheer goalkeeping elegance.
DFB.de: Some in the German media have called this tour of the U.S. "a holiday trip"…
Adler: I beg to differ! We train every day, every training session leaves us absolutely drained, and every single player here is mightily proud to have been called up to the squad. Playing for Germany is the highest reward for every professional! I think we should move on and remember that at the end of the day, it's all about results. I can't really understand why this trip has got so much flak. Two German club teams facing up in a Champions League final is something to be proud of, isn't it? And at the same time, this gives new players a chance to shine. New players equal new options, and you need plenty of options with a 2014 World Cup approaching fast. So I can't find anything negative to say about this trip.
DFB.de: Your relationship to Ron-Robert Zieler and Marc-André ter Stegen?
Adler: Absolutely positive, but frankly, this has never been a problem for me. I got along just fine with Manuel Neuer, Tim Wiese, and Jens Lehmann. Obviously, we are all competitors for the same job, so everybody's extremely ambitious. But it's a healthy kind of rivalry, certainly not at the cost of fun, fair play, and solidarity among colleagues. That's something the coaching staff lay great store by – not forgetting we have a common objective.
DFB.de: How do you prepare for a game?
Adler: In the early days, I used to jot down a few key thoughts to help me focus on whatever aspect I felt was important. My preparation is pretty thorough. I'm not the happy-go-lucky kind of keeper who just walks onto the pitch and sees how things go. In fact, the whole week is geared towards performing as best as I can on match day.
DFB.de: Sounds like a stressful life!
Adler: Not at all, because relaxation and regeneration are all part of preparation, so every once in a while you've got to switch off, take your thoughts elsewhere, or just go for a walk. That's all part of preparation for me, just as is setting a few minutes aside on the eve of the match to focus on what your tasks and objectives are.
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DFB.de: But aren't these always the same?
Adler: No, because you never feel the same prior to every game. Sometimes you're tense and nervous, so you've got to deal with that. Other days you're kind of euphoric and feel invincible, which is dangerous, so I concentrate on getting the simple things right. Or you think that everything goes almost by itself – then the objective must be to not lose focus and concentration. So if you mentally prepare for these situations, you have an internal route to follow in the actual match.
DFB.de: Have you dealt with Ecuador's forwards? Who shoots into which corner, using which foot etc.?
Adler: Let's not overdo it! Sunday was the first day for us to slowly but surely get into an "Ecuador state of mind". We also had a comprehensive video analysis presented to us by chief scout Urs Siegenthaler, with lots of very useful information. And I have my Playbook on me, with uploads of video sequences of dead ball situations, penalty takers, their favourite counterattack moves etc. .I'll be studying these on the bus driving from Miami to Boca Raton.
DFB.de: An impressive 80,000 spectators were in a floodlit Stade de France on the day of your comeback for Germany. It's extremely unlikely that such a crowd will come to the Ecuador match, plus kick-off is scheduled for 2.30 pm in the afternoon. Does this make it harder for you to focus on the task ahead?
Adler: 8,000 or 80,000 – it's all the same for me, really. I concentrate on my own game, regardless of crowd, weather, importance of the match or whatever other factors there may be.
DFB.de: After the French game, you said it was hard for you to enjoy the match because you hadn't played at that level for such a long time. Will this be any different here in the U.S.?
Adler: I hope so. I was under immense pressure against France: it was my comeback for Germany, everybody was watching me, plus Germany's record against France is pretty poor. During the match, I managed to push all that aside, but that's a very energy-sapping thing to do. It was only after the final whistle that I realised how knackered I was!
created by tsc
[bild1]
There is no doubt that René Adler's comeback from long-time injury was one the news stories in 2012. Having been signed by Hamburg from Leverkusen, he managed to reach his old performance levels in the league, which earned him a call-up to the German squad for their friendly match against the Netherlands in November 2012 (0-0).
Fast forward six months later, and 28-year-old Adler is back between the posts, an integral part of the DFB team that is currently in the United States for a two-game friendly series, with game #1 against Ecuador in Boca Raton on Wednesday, 29 May (14:30 h EST), and game #2 against the USA in Washington on Sunday, 2 June (14:30 h EST). Talking to DFB.de writer Steffen Lüdeke, Adler reveals all about goalkeeper training drills, competition among goalkeepers, and his methods to psyche himself up ahead of matches.
DFB.de: René, you were a monster in goal at training on Tuesday, driving your team-mates to despair…
René Adler: Yeah, wasn't I? (laughs) Well, I just love these crossing and finishing drills, with plenty of one-on-one situations at the end, like a battle of wits between keeper and forward. And I admit I love training, especially here where it's 30 degrees Celsius, on a carpet-like natural turf field that couldn't be better. Let's say that doing your job with pleasure helps the end product come out right.
DFB.de: How important is training for your self-confidence and, ultimately, your game?
Adler: I have this ambition to give my best at every training session. It would be unthinkable for me to run at half speed during the week and then try to go full steam ahead on match day. The objective is for me to get a little better every day. That doesn't always work, because some days you feel better than others, but generally I always make a point of focussing on my job and finding the right attitude. Only then can you approach "serious" matches in the right frame of mind.
DFB.de: Is club goalkeeper training any different from national team goalkeeper training?
Adler: There are some but not major differences. My coach at Hamburg is Ronny Teuber, who's just fantastic at finding ever new variations to a set of core drills, but basically we don't really want to reivent the wheel here. It all about dealing with crosses and corners, stopping shots, working on distribution, improving my footwork, and becoming a more athletic player. That's practically the same as what we do with Germany, only that we have far less time available. But the goalkeeping philosophy remains almost the same.
DFB.de: At Leverkusen, Rüdiger Vollborn helped you make Germany's Number One, at Hamburg Ronny Teuber was key in getting you back on your feet. How important is Germany goalkeeper coach Andreas Köpke for you?
Adler: Very important. "Köppi" is the one who prepares us for matches, providing us with opponent-specific information and giving us the mental security we need. Training with the national team really raises every player's level, no matter whether you're a keeper or an outfield player, simply because the bar is set so high. Germany have become one of the world's best sides, with plenty of stars, or at least budding stars. Which means that in every training session, you've got to focus one hundred percent on what's going on, 'cause you play with or against the cream of the crop. That's great for your personal and collective development.
DFB.de: Germany, they say, is the home of goalkeeping. However, when you started out your role models were Peter Schmeichel and Rinat Dassajew…
Adler: True enough, but that doesn't mean I wasn't interested in German goalies! Of course I also followed the Bundesliga, watching the way goalkeepers played, copying features I felt would improve my own game. However, I'd still say these two were my early idols. I mean Schmeichel is a totally different kind of keeper, I'll never play the way he did. But I was impressed with his physical strength, positive aggression, and jumping power. That's a keeper's strongest asset. When watching other keepers, that's what I watch out for – does he really jump or just let himself drop on the floor? I also liked the way Schmeichel commanded his box, as well as his readiness to take risks.
DFB.de: And Dassajew?
Adler: Well, his career dates back even longer, but I used to be – and still am – a big fan, watching youtube videos of his matches. It's fascinating to see his composure, self-confidence, and sheer goalkeeping elegance.
DFB.de: Some in the German media have called this tour of the U.S. "a holiday trip"…
Adler: I beg to differ! We train every day, every training session leaves us absolutely drained, and every single player here is mightily proud to have been called up to the squad. Playing for Germany is the highest reward for every professional! I think we should move on and remember that at the end of the day, it's all about results. I can't really understand why this trip has got so much flak. Two German club teams facing up in a Champions League final is something to be proud of, isn't it? And at the same time, this gives new players a chance to shine. New players equal new options, and you need plenty of options with a 2014 World Cup approaching fast. So I can't find anything negative to say about this trip.
DFB.de: Your relationship to Ron-Robert Zieler and Marc-André ter Stegen?
Adler: Absolutely positive, but frankly, this has never been a problem for me. I got along just fine with Manuel Neuer, Tim Wiese, and Jens Lehmann. Obviously, we are all competitors for the same job, so everybody's extremely ambitious. But it's a healthy kind of rivalry, certainly not at the cost of fun, fair play, and solidarity among colleagues. That's something the coaching staff lay great store by – not forgetting we have a common objective.
DFB.de: How do you prepare for a game?
Adler: In the early days, I used to jot down a few key thoughts to help me focus on whatever aspect I felt was important. My preparation is pretty thorough. I'm not the happy-go-lucky kind of keeper who just walks onto the pitch and sees how things go. In fact, the whole week is geared towards performing as best as I can on match day.
DFB.de: Sounds like a stressful life!
Adler: Not at all, because relaxation and regeneration are all part of preparation, so every once in a while you've got to switch off, take your thoughts elsewhere, or just go for a walk. That's all part of preparation for me, just as is setting a few minutes aside on the eve of the match to focus on what your tasks and objectives are.
[bild2]
DFB.de: But aren't these always the same?
Adler: No, because you never feel the same prior to every game. Sometimes you're tense and nervous, so you've got to deal with that. Other days you're kind of euphoric and feel invincible, which is dangerous, so I concentrate on getting the simple things right. Or you think that everything goes almost by itself – then the objective must be to not lose focus and concentration. So if you mentally prepare for these situations, you have an internal route to follow in the actual match.
DFB.de: Have you dealt with Ecuador's forwards? Who shoots into which corner, using which foot etc.?
Adler: Let's not overdo it! Sunday was the first day for us to slowly but surely get into an "Ecuador state of mind". We also had a comprehensive video analysis presented to us by chief scout Urs Siegenthaler, with lots of very useful information. And I have my Playbook on me, with uploads of video sequences of dead ball situations, penalty takers, their favourite counterattack moves etc. .I'll be studying these on the bus driving from Miami to Boca Raton.
DFB.de: An impressive 80,000 spectators were in a floodlit Stade de France on the day of your comeback for Germany. It's extremely unlikely that such a crowd will come to the Ecuador match, plus kick-off is scheduled for 2.30 pm in the afternoon. Does this make it harder for you to focus on the task ahead?
Adler: 8,000 or 80,000 – it's all the same for me, really. I concentrate on my own game, regardless of crowd, weather, importance of the match or whatever other factors there may be.
DFB.de: After the French game, you said it was hard for you to enjoy the match because you hadn't played at that level for such a long time. Will this be any different here in the U.S.?
Adler: I hope so. I was under immense pressure against France: it was my comeback for Germany, everybody was watching me, plus Germany's record against France is pretty poor. During the match, I managed to push all that aside, but that's a very energy-sapping thing to do. It was only after the final whistle that I realised how knackered I was!
