#B04imSchwarzwald – Wirtz on team-mates and competition on the table tennis table

Flo, welcome back! How does it feel to be with the team again?

Wirtz: "I certainly enjoyed my three weeks of  holiday, but at the end I felt like I couldn't wait to come back to the team and play football again. I looked forward to seeing everyone. You spend so much time with each other, you're together on the pitch and do what all of us enjoy most. We achieved so much together last season and that just brings you closer to people and you miss them at some point. It's like at school, when you finally see all your friends again after the summer holidays (laughs)."

When you arrived in Donaueschingen, you particularly made a lot of time for the large crowd of gathered fans. Did you expect such a reception?

Wirtz: "I didn't actually expect that, but it's obviously nice that we can excite so many people. That's why we're happy to make the time and recognise that so many people come here every day and want to see us."

Viewed from the outside, the training sessions are already very intensive again. What does it feel like for you on the pitch?

Wirtz: "Obviously, in the first few sessions you never train the way that you normally prefer, but we're laying the foundation for the whole season. But to be honest, I am glad that we've got a lot of friendlies soon (laughs). We'll obviously try to be guided by last season but at the same time continue to improve. I believe our coaching team have already thought about one or two new things over the summer."

New signing Martin Terrier recently revealed in a press conference that of all his new team-mates, he was most looking forward to playing with you.

Wirtz: "It's obviously an honour for me to hear that. He's also making a very positive impression on me. He's a very open and interested person, and on the pitch too we've gained a very good player in him. The other new guys have also brought further quality to our team. You can really feel that everyone's working hard on the pitch at the moment. Everyone wants to prove themselves, which is how it should be because a team lives off that. I think that's exactly the right approach for the new season."

Some youth players are also here. Do you see yourself as a role model for them?

Wirtz: "Certainly, as I know what it's like. It's not that long ago that I went through that. It's not always easy when you move up to the first team. That's why I want to prove to myself again and again with my conduct on and off the pitch, in terms of professionalism and attitude, that I approach everything with focus and, in the same breath, also show the younger players how it's done, so that they can perhaps lean on me. And so far I'm very satisfied with the boys (laughs)."

And away from the pitch, how are you spending your leisure time here?

Wirtz: "You'll often find me playing singles or doubles on the table tennis table - always with Amine (Adli] as partner. That's my main skill besides football. I'd go as far as saying that we're the best duo, but unfortunately we've also suffered a defeat. I'm not going to name who it was against or dish out any praise. We'll put it right in the coming days (laughs)."