Roger Schmidt: Back to our game

Roger Schmidt on…

... the third training camp in Orlando:

I’d almost say the conditions are improving year by year. The pitches, hotel, organisation: We’ve drawn the right conclusions in all areas over the past few years and made progress across the board. It’s a great place to train and you feel at home. The climate is perfect – not least if you compare the situation back home in Germany. The facilities here are great and we’ve made the most of them.

... the return of Karim Bellarabi, Kevin Volland and Lars Bender:

Firstly, I’m happy for the players that they’re back. Above all for Karim of course as he’s been out the longest. It was a complicated injury. That also applies in a similar way to Kevin Volland and Lars Bender, who has also had a tough road to recovery. We’ve succeeded in coordinating rehab so that players can get back to the training ground as soon as possible but also as effectively as possible. We’re convinced of that: They’re doing well so we hope they will soon be playing at the BayArena again. I’d like to say a big thank you to everybody who’s made that happen.

... expectations of the trio:

The players are highly motivated and are top quality. We don’t want to put them under any pressure and we’ll take care of them. We know they can help us a lot when they’re fully fit.

... the interim assessment after a week of the winter training camp:

The whole squad has benefited from the training camp. We’ve got time here to work hard on individual aspects of our game. The players are very committed and really enjoying themselves. We’re putting in a huge effort. That has enabled us to create a basis for us to fine tune things over the next few weeks. Currently that are two aspects that stand out. Firstly, the team is clearly in a better place. That applies to their emotional state but also to the physical and footballing aspects. And the three players named means there will be even more competition for places. The whole package will help us be better prepared for games and to play our game.

... the targets for the remaining competitive matches:

We’ve sat down with the team at the training camp and made it clear that in the second half of the season it’s not primarily about achieving a set position or set number of points. Over and above that, we’re determined to rediscover our strengths we built up over the past two and a half years that set us apart. If we succeed then we can achieve the maximum possible success. With total energy, lots of fun and bags of determination we can play our game: That’s the right way.

... “Playing our game”:

We’re a team that approaches games with great energy. When we have the ball we want to get into the areas where we can pose a threat on goal. And our target in pressing the ball is to put pressure on the opposition to win back possession as soon as possible. Not to forget: We’re strong when it comes to playing on the break. That makes a flexible and active approach to defending an indispensable starting point. That way of playing football has been our trademark over the past few years. That worked well in the first half of the season but only at certain points.

... the importance of the friendlies:

We set specific tasks for the team in these games. At the same time, we don’t expect everything to be perfect in the friendlies. Our line-ups are too mixed and the training intensity too high to achieve that. Of course, it’s also a physical question of being able to implement instructions. But I see the determination achieved in training carrying over into games. That’s why these matches are so important in getting an idea of where we’re up to. We see what works well and what needs to be improved. That means we can adapt training sessions to take the next step.

... the games against Atletico Mineiro and VfL Bochum 1848:

We did well on Sunday in fielding two equally strong teams. I can’t say whether we’ll be able to do the same against Atletico Mineiro. The match against VfL Bochum is primarily for players who have sidelined through injury recently. They will be able to get more match practice. The starting eleven for the Hamburg game will become clear in the week before the game.

... Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez:

We talk a lot and I know Chicha has not always been happy with his performances over recent weeks. In the first half of the season he appeared to be unable to produce his best performances for different reasons. We’ve seen a completely different Chicharito here in Orlando. He’s full of drive and energy. He’s in very good physical condition and an absolute role model in terms of training intensity. If you see him here then you get the impression that we’ll see the Chicharito in the next six months that we know from his first season in Germany – or perhaps even better.

... penalty shoot-out against Estudiantes:

Obviously, it wasn’t a Champions League game or a penalty in the closing stages of a Bundesliga match that could be a winner. But this experience can certainly be relevant for the rest of the season. We’ve broken the spell. It’s definitely done the team good to have the nerve to get through this situation. It’s a positive signal and a sign the team wants to develop in this area. It has preoccupied us but now we can look forward.

... Jörn Wolf as team coordinator:

It’s been on my mind for a good while that a link between the coaching team, players and the support staff could be very important. I’d like to stress that we’re already working at a very high level. That applies to the players but also the specialists around the team. We have created outstanding conditions here at Bayer 04 over the years. We have a lot of expertise and drive. And if you then have someone who can improve on that then that can only be good. The individual areas continue to to develop on a permanent basis. But given the large number of games and increasing demands it’s not easy to make full use of the solid input of the individual specialists. I’ve had the experience of whenever I sit down with members of staff that something good comes of it. If we speak to each other, if we share ideas. Unfortunately, the only thing is I can’t get everybody together every day. There isn’t enough time. So it’s good to have someone who can coordinate it all. He’ll ensure we talk to each other often enough and then we’ll be able to fine tune our processes and methods faster and take greater steps forward. It’s important to have somebody who can also communicate, who focuses on the atmosphere, who is innovative and also takes the long view of developments. You need the right man for that. Jörn has very quickly shown he is able to fill this new role in football that has never existed before in this form. I’m sure he will make us stronger and that we will continue to improve. And I’m convinced this role will catch on in the Bundesliga. Everybody involved with the team is here for one aim: To prepare the players as best as possible for matches.

... the joy of fatherhood:

Everyone, who has become a father, knows it brings a colossal change in life and that this experience is an incredible enrichment. So it is self-evident to us that a player or someone from the coaching or support staff should have the chance to be there if he wants to be. We prepared for that by giving Julian Baumgartlinger a special, individual programme. He was completely euphoric over the birth of his daughter when he arrived in Orlando. You can see that in him at training. He has incredible power and energy. So the decision was the right one. And I’m firmly convinced Julian will show that in his performances in the second half of the season.