Sven Schipplock: "We can take something from the Bayer game"

After your injury, you are back in regular Bundesliga action...

It's a great feeling to be back in the team and to help out. I can do this because my body is back to full fitness and is without issue. I've been pain free for a few weeks now.

Bayern striker Mario Mandzukic is being praised for his defensive work at the moment. This is something you are also doing right?

The work off the ball and the defensive side of attack are certainly part of my strengths. The manager expects that of me too. My good level of fitness allows me to implement this for longer periods of time and that helps the team. If I can then go on to assist or score a goal then I have successful completed a part of my work for the team.

That's pretty energy sapping though…

Yes, of course it is. Constant pressing and running requires a lot of energy but it's also a lot of fun. We do this in training a lot so as not to suffer from a technical loss in ability when our energy levels are low.

Let's talk about the 2-2 draw in Wolfsburg.

The late equaliser was obviously a pity. I was already on the bench but I was rooting for the lads to hold on. It was frustrating to draw late on but at the end of the day it was a point earned. We knew that it would be difficult to deal with both Naldo and Madlung at set-pieces. They're very good in the air even if you're marking them well. Nevertheless we had a good game.

Leverkusen are next up on Saturday. What do you expect from the match?

It won't be easy but if we remain focused as a team and work with the ball aggressively like we have been doing then we can make it just as difficult for Leverkusen. If we are a little more present in attack then we can take something from the game.

André Schürrle and Stefan Kießling are the stand out candidates in Leverkusen's attack. How do you deal with players like that?

Kießling is just on a roll. The ball just seems to be landing at his feet. André Schürrle has a great individual quality and can cause so many problems. Of course we know we have to take that kind of player out of the game in order to be successful ourselves. That works best as a team. Everyone has to work for everyone else.

Can you learn things from players like them?

Schürrle is a very different player to me. Kießling is similar in terms of his playing style, so I always try to learn a few things by watching him: how he moves, how he creates space for himself, how he finishes an attack. That doesn't just apply to him though, but for all good strikers.

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