Rutten pleased with work done at training camp
19.01.2009
After six days of 'hard labour' at their Spanish training camp Marcelo Bordon and Co. were delighted to be given Saturday off to relax with their families. In this interview with schalke04.de Fred Rutten looks back on the time in Valencia.
Fred, how would you sum up the training camp?
For me it's always important to have the squad together for five or six days after a lengthy break. It was good to be in a different climate as well. It allowed us to work in a focused way and talk to the players individually. In training we deliberately placed the emphasis on developing the players' physique. Plus we had two games against teams who are in the middle of their season and were really up for it. That pushed the players as well. I would have wished for a different scoreline both times, but the results of our games in Jena and Hannover are what's really important. All in all the lads worked very hard, so for the first time in 13 days we'll have a day off on Saturday. On Sunday we're all off to the various New Year receptions.
What's the injury situation like?
Christian Pander, Levan Kobiashvili, who has a sore Achilles tendon, and Benedikt Höwedes, who took a blow to the knee in Spain, are carrying knocks. I don't think they'll be out for long, though. Kevin Kuranyi and Orlando Engelaar were able to do some work with the ball in full training on Friday, which was good. They'll need a bit more time, however.
In Marvin Pachan, Predrag Stevanovic and Andreas Wiegel three under-19 players accompanied the senior squad to Spain. What was your impression of them?
Don't forget Danny Latza from the second team as well. It's very important both for the club and the young players, who are sheltered a bit more in the youth team, after all, to get some experience at senior level. It's a slightly different world and you have to get to know it. They've done that and they conducted themselves very well, which is what I would expect.
On Sunday you're visiting your first supporters club New Year reception. Are you already curious about what it will be like?
I'll just wait and see what happens. I do know, however, that these trips by players, coaches and officials have a long tradition. I think it's nice that once a year we do something the fans do on regular basis, i.e. make a long journey to see each other. We did that at my former club Twente as well, by the way.
