Jiloan Hamad: “Physically, footballing and tactically better”

Hello Jiloan,. The whole team met the fans in Brunnen on Saturday evening. How did it go for you?

Jiloan Hamad: It was a fantastic evening. It was the first time to do this kind of thing. I find it great that our fans take a holiday and choose to travel with us to Switzerland. That just shows everyone how important TSG is for the fans and they gave us that extra bit of motivation. That evening was a chance for us to personally thanks the fans for their support. The fans got to know us a bit better and I think everyone had a super evening.

You've been with the side for almost a week now in Brunnen. How has the training camp gone up to now?

Hamad:.Really good actually. It's got everything you need here – the accommodation, the pitches, the people in the hotel – it's all perfect. That all makes for a good atmosphere. That's very important when it's a training camp where you're very close together for ten days. Tarik and Eugen both returned to the team from their injuries on Saturday too. Everything is going well.

Altogether, you've been with TSG for seven months. How do you look back at this time?

Hamad: It's been a good time even if I would obviously like to have played a bit more in my first six months here. But I knew that I needed time in order to become accustomed to the Bundesliga. The players are quicker and more physical and the tactical level is that bit higher. It was clear to me that I wasn't immediately going to be a regular at TSG after moving from the Swedish league to the Bundesliga. I'm patient though and have developed since I arrived here.

What do you make of the team at present?

Hamad: In the middle of things. But that was the case from day one. I welcomed everyone with open arms. We've got a great atmosphere within the team all the time. That's extremely important for success. I'm on the same wavelength as everyone and we also do a lot together off the pitch. We ate together in Heidelberg with a lot of the lads just before the training camp.

That all sounds very good. What personal goals have you set for the new season?

Hamad: I'm ready to help the team but success as a team is the most important thing. Therefore I'll work hard for that - every day.