…the training camp:

“We had an intense 10 days, a great atmosphere and a big group of players with us. You can sense how much the lads demand of themselves and one another. Nobody takes it easy, and that creates healthy competition. I’m convinced that this attitude is exactly why we have so much dedication and intensity in our work. It’s everything a coach could ask for.

Our first pre-season friendly against Derby County was decent. They were a week away from the start of their league campaign and were very physical, but we matched them well. It was also Fürth’s final friendly before the start of the Bundesliga 2 season, and you could tell. Although we did not have the freshest legs, there were periods when we needed to be more compact and work better as a unit. If you do not do that, you make life difficult for yourselves. We had chances but did not take them. Perhaps a defeat like that is not such a bad thing at this stage if it sharpens our awareness of exactly what it takes to be successful.”

…the team’s attack:

Competition for places was already one of our strengths last season, and I think it has become even more intense. The good thing about pre-season is that no decisions have been made yet. The minutes are being shared evenly and the coaches are watching everyone closely.

It is clear to anyone watching Cyriaque Irié that he is right in the mix. He is in excellent physical condition. The same applies to Derry Scherhant, Niklas Beste and Vincenzo Grifo. They have all had some very good moments. Those impressions are hugely important for the coaching staff. They are also essential for players looking to put themselves in contention for opportunities to play in the near future.

Those impressions also reinforce what we saw during the second half of last season. Particularly when we were behind and had to act, individual attacking quality became crucial. Sissi Irié, for example, gave us real impetus after coming on at St. Pauli. Of course, we want to reach the point where we can have him on the pitch regardless of the score.

Igor Matanović only joined up with the group during training camp. You can tell that he gained a great deal of experience at the World Cup, including by playing at a very high level. Those experiences will undoubtedly help his development and allow him to mature as a player.

…the team’s defence:

There is plenty of competition there too. Matthias Ginter and Philipp Lienhart form a partnership that gives us great stability. Despite all their experience, they still have the desire to keep improving. The younger players can take inspiration from that approach. Max Rosenfelder and Bruno Ogbus have performed well and will benefit from having completed a full pre-season. Ideally, we will put ourselves in a position to compete on three fronts again, with all the matches that come along with that. Being able to rotate is extremely valuable in that situation.

Berkay Yilmaz has come in on the left, although I can also see him playing in other positions. He has already played at right-back during an 11-v-11 in training and handled the role very, very well. He played in midfield in the friendly. His versatility is a real strength. He needs to see it that way himself, as that is also how we view it as a coaching staff.

…the Japanese contingent:

When we look for new players, we certainly do not base our decisions on whether they have a Japanese passport. Recently, however, our search for certain types of player has led us to Japan more often, and our Japanese contingent has grown considerably this year. Our positive experiences with Ritsu Doan and Yuito Suzuki naturally play a part as well. But sharing the same nationality does not necessarily mean that Yuito, Rihito, Keisuke and Mio will all automatically click with one another. Conversely, if I were working in Japan alongside another German, it would not mean I had to go for coffee with him every afternoon. We see every player as an individual with different needs.

It is also important to us that Mio Backhaus is not expected to double up as an interpreter. He needs space of his own. He has helped out very naturally and willingly so far, and has done an excellent job. But there may also be times when he says, ‘I’m not up for that right now.’ That is completely fine too.

…on the team’s ambitions:

The lads are constantly developing, and that raises the overall level. It definitely benefits us, and we go into matches with a healthy confidence in what we are capable of. At the same time, it is essential that we do not forget the basics. That was one of the lessons from last season, when we had no points after the first two matchdays. The finer details come after the foundations. That is the stage we are at now.

I do not think there is much point discussing outcome-based targets at this stage. Of course, everyone has ambitious goals, and I am also someone who thinks very positively and wants to achieve a great deal. But that is not the main point. I want our ambitions, hopes and dreams to be reflected in our work every day. My job is to work relentlessly to give us the chance of getting there. That is our approach: step by step, with internal milestones along the way. If we do not reach one of them, we have to reflect, look closely at the reasons and understand why. Ideally, one milestone will follow another, and that can ultimately lead to us achieving something special.