Schonlau: “We've spent our time wisely"

Simply put, training camps are absolutely essential, because you can work on the basics for the new seasons in the training sessions and the friendlies. However, they are also exhausting, of course, and you notice that eventually, not just in your legs, but in your head as well. We’ve got a good training pitch here, though, and some top accommodation. We feel very comfortable in the apartments, because you can also spend your time wisely outside of training.

Outside of training, you’ve also got close together by spending your evenings together. How important are moments like this when you’re together on a ten-day training camp?

A team evening during a training camp is, in my opinion, a very good and very necessary thing. You all go out together and do something as a team in a very different and relaxed environment, you eat and have a drink together. We’ve also got our rituals like the initiation songs for new players, and that is a great way to lighten things up and is often the talk of the next few days. You can get to know your teammates in a whole new way.

Is something like this also important to integrate new or younger players? 

We’re a very open team, that welcomes new players with open arms. We all knew how it was to start somewhere don’t know anyone and where everything’s very new. It’s of course a big help when three or four players actively take you under their wing, help you and make it easier for you to settle in. It always feels good and makes integrating into the team much, much easier.

In your role as captain, do you see a particular responsibility in this matter?