Glatzel: “I am just happy to be here with the team”

Whether with a flying header, his right or left foot, striker Robert Glatzel just loves scoring goals. In his second training session with the squad, he seemed upbeat and confident in front of goal on Sunday morning. The 27-year-old newcomer, who signed a three-year deal with the club back on June 23rd, has been forced to quarantine and train at home for two weeks due to a case of coronavirus. Now he's happy to finally be off the leash. The man from Munich, most recently with 1. FSV Mainz 05 on loan from Cardiff City, spoke to the media after training. He spoke about...

... his fitness levels: You lose a little during quarantine and before that was the summer break, when your fitness drops a bit anyway. I may not be in as great shape as the other lads but I tried to stay as fit as possible at home. I spent two or three hours each day doing cardio as well as training with weights.

… his unfortunate start to life at the club: The coronavirus infection was a real shock for me and I still don't know where I got it from. Obviously it was a real slap in the face when I heard that I wouldn't be able to train with my new team right away. Especially since I was feeling fit and Grassau was just an hour away from Munich. But now that chapter is over and I'm looking ahead to the future. I'm just happy to be here with the team.

… following Simon Terodde: It's not something that is being talked about by the team, only by those outside. Every striker wants to score goals and win games. For me personally, it's about playing lots, helping the team and scoring goals. Every striker tries to do that. But I don't set myself a target in the form of a number of goals. That doesn't make any sense and it's something I've never done.

... his style as a forward: It's hard to describe yourself, it's not really my thing. But I can definitely bring a lot to the team: I am two footed, dangerous in front of goal and I want to take part in the play and bring my teammates into the game. I'm not the kind of guy who only scores goals, just hanging around in the box waiting for his moment. I want to help out elsewhere too.

… his footballing career: I'm extremely grateful for my journey so far and I've been able to take positive and negative things from each club I've been at. The aim is to keep going. In Heidenheim, it felt like I made my breakthrough in the second division. In Cardiff, there was a totally different way of playing, a new mentality. A new language and a new country too – and I took a lot from that as well. Most recently, in Mainz, I got a great taste of the Bundesliga and was able to fulfill my dreams.