„We can look forward to genuine quality“

End of pre-season training camp in Herzogenaurach: The Rothosen have wrapped up their five-day camp at the ‘home ground’ of kit supplier adidas. On Friday (7 August), the HSV first-team players took to the training pitch one last time before setting off for Hamburg in the afternoon. Tomorrow, Saturday, at 3 pm, they face LOSC in a friendly at the Volksparkstadion. Ahead of their departure, assistant manager Loic Fave summed up the training camp during a press conference, looked ahead to the clash with the French side and explained how far the Rothosen have come in their pre-season preparations. The 33-year-old spoke in detail about ...

… the friendly against Lille: Lille are a top-class side who finished third last season and possess a very high standard in every aspect of the game. They’ve been very consistent in recent years and have always been among the frontrunners. We’re in for a real test of quality. By comparison, that’s a very high Bundesliga standard. We’re kicking off straight away in Dortmund, which is why we need this. We in the coaching staff are big fans of being really put to the test in these friendlies. It shows you even more clearly what you’re still lacking to be ready for the Bundesliga.

… the training camp: It was definitely the toughest week of pre-season. The players who’ve been with us from the start, in particular, have taken the next steps. We wanted to really delve into the key areas with them.

… the state of the season preparations: We’re further along than we were at the same stage last year, because the basic framework is in place and the team has already taken our ideas on board. What’s more, the new signings have settled in well. So we’ve got a lot to build on. We’re very pleased with the commitment and willingness to perform. All in all, the team is really pulling together. We’ve set out to play with greater intensity, apply high pressure more often and be more dominant in transition phases. In the training sessions and friendlies so far, it’s clear that things are improving. It remains a work in progress.

… the young prospects at the training camp: we’ve got a good impression of them. You can see that they’re holding their own amongst the professionals. Young players can integrate into a professional squad through their personality and performance – and they’re doing both well. For example, they ask questions and build relationships with the other players. This doesn’t happen by chance, because in Tom Mickel we’ve brought in someone who prepares the young players, above all, on a personal level. What we need from these young players is the attitude to want to learn, to show intensity and to build a rapport with the more experienced players. And Tom is there precisely to ease that transition. Given my dual role, I’m naturally delighted that the steps we’ve taken in youth development over the last few years are becoming evident.