04 questions for Tah: 'I was there one minute and gone the next'

However, the 20-year-old enjoyed every minute. He returned to the Werkself squad yesterday and told everybody about the excitement of the past few weeks. Using the hashtag #B04inAustria we asked fans via Facebook and Twitter to put questions to Jonathan Tah and we received some interesting responses. Here is another in our series of “04 questions from us, 04 questions from you”.

Hello Jona, great to see you again. What was your reception like yesterday?

Tah: “I didn’t meet a lot of the lads straight away but Rudi Völler was there to meet me. Then I went straight to the training ground and it was really cool to meet up with everybody again. It’s good for me to get started again at last.”

What are your expectations for the next few days?

Tah: “It will definitely be very intensive. I’ve heard the last three weeks of training have been very serious and I want to get back up to speed as soon as possible so I can give one hundred percent when the season kicks off. Of course, I’ve trained at home but I haven’t been back from holiday very long.”

On that subject: Where were you?

Tah: “I was at home with my family. I actually wanted to go on holiday to Miami but it didn’t come off. My mobile rang when I got to the hotel: I was asked to get back home as soon as possible. Of course, I did that straight away.”

You were called up for the European Championships. What was it like being with the national squad?

Tah: “It was exciting. Even though I didn’t play I enjoyed it immensely – true to the motto: Being there is everything. The Euros were a great experience for me.”

Marcel Wessels: Who do you think was the best defender at Euro 2016?

Tah: “I’d say it was Jerome. He had a brilliant tournament. In the semi-final he showed everybody he was the best central defender in the tournament.”

Jörg Slottke: Which opponent motivates you the most and which club do you most hate losing to?

Tah: “Firstly, against anyone – but particularly against Holland. The games were always very competitive at youth level when you could see how how important it was. Just like in Leverkusen against Köln. You never want to lose games like that.

@DerFylyp: Who do you get on best with in the squad?

Tah: “We’re a really good set of lads so I get on with everybody. But I do you a lot with Benny Henrichs away from the pitch as is the case with Hakan, Karim and a few others.”

Jacek Kij: If you’re in the ring against Sylvester Stallone and Chuck Norris in a tag team...Who will be the first to run away?

Tah: “Chuck Norris. Without a doubt.