Oliver Baumann: “It gives us strength”

Oliver, after doing a training session in the morning, you watched our first friendly from the stands. What was your impression?

Oliver Baumann:It was a real tough one for us because everyone could feel the fatigue after the training sessions in the previous days. You also have the high temperature and the humidity on top of that – our opponents were more used to it. But everyone put their all into the game and fought hard. I think that we can take positives from it. No one in the team took a step back.

We're halfway through the training camp in Johannesburg. Who have you made of it so far?

Baumann:It's quite hot here, even in the morning training sessions, and especially when it gets toward midday. We've also had to get used to the altitude, but I think that the conditions are optimal for our preparations. It's great fun. I was really looking forward to getting back on the pitch after the break. The sun and the atmosphere is brilliant.

How was the break for you?

Baumann:I had my usual cold – that seems to happen during every break, but it was okay. I was still able to complete my individual training sessions.

Are you already thinking ahead to the return of the Bundesliga in Augsburg?

Baumann:No, that's a way off yet. We still have a lot of intensive training sessions and a friendly ahead of us. There's a lot to do when we get back to Germany too: Plenty more training sessions and two more friendlies. You can't waste any energy in thinking too far ahead.

How different is the demand in training during the break compared to during the season?

Baumann:We would never normally train three times a day in a week between two matches, but that's what we're doing here. The amount and intensity of training is higher. That gives us a lot of strength for the second half of the season though.