FIRST TEAM
07/07/2015

"We’re happy to have made it this far"

As well as five new arrivals from other clubs, TSG are also counting on their own youth talent. Benedikt Gimber, Joshua Mees and Philipp Ochs have all travelled with the first team to their training camp in Westerburg. The three academy talents sat down with achtzehn99.de to talk about their first impressions of first-team life, and any role models they may have amongst their teammates.

You’ve been with the first team for almost a week. How has the experience been so far? 

Joshua Mees: We’ve been welcomed into the group really well. The lads are really nice, and we feel at home here with the rest of the team. We’ve been treated very well by everyone. So far, everything has gone exactly as you would hope as a new member of a team.

Last Saturday, the team was welcomed by around 3,000 supporters at the first training session – what did that feel like? 

Benedikt Gimber: It was a nice experience – firstly just to get a run out with the first team and then also to train in front of so many people in a Bundesliga stadium. It was a really special feeling and I found it very cool. 

You’ve completed the first few days of training with the first team. Is there a difference to the U19s, and what are your first impressions?

Phillip Ochs: The biggest difference is definitely the tempo, and training is a lot more physical. Even though it’s just training, 50-50s are strongly contested. I’m noticing that my legs are feeling the strain a lot more than they ever have after training with the U19s.

Gimber: Above all, training is simply of a higher quality. It starts with the passing drills and continues on to the other exercises and practice matches.

Benedikt, you had a fractured ankle. Is everything okay again after your injury?

Gimber: Yes, I’m really happy with how everything has worked out. My ankle is back to full strength and I haven’t got any problems. I was actually surprised at how well my rehabilitation went. But I shouldn’t complain and I’m very happy that I can get back into it so quickly.

Did the coaching staff give you any specific instructions or advice upon your arrival?

Mees: No, there weren’t any specific instructions. Markus Gisdol and his team just want us to get stuck in during training like everyone else, and to have a completely normal experience of first-team life. That’s definitely best for us in my opinion. 

Ochs: We haven’t been given any special exercises or goals to achieve – we should simply give everything we have on the field to show the coaches that we want to be there, and that we can be a part of the Bundesliga squad. That’s something we really want to do.

Niklas Süle is only two years older than you and he was a starter in the Bundesliga last year up until his cruciate ligament rupture. Is he someone you would like to emulate? 

Gimber: Of course. Niki also plays in my position. His career path up to now is really inspiring for us and something worth striving for. He’s definitely a role model for me.

Ochs: It takes something special to be a starter in the Bundesliga at such a young age. So naturally we’d all like to make that same step up. I’m working hard to achieve this goal and I’m very happy to have been given this chance. 

By joining up with the first team, have any of your childhood dreams been realised yet?

Mees: Almost every young boy dreams of playing first-team professional football. I’m happy to have made it this far – it’s really special to me. 

Ochs: People work for years to make the step up to first-team football, constantly hoping for a chance and then celebrating when it presents itself. So yes, a small dream has already been realised. Now we all have to give our best to continue to be a part of the squad.

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