''I'll have to experience it again with the fans''

In January 2020, after three-and-a-half years at TSG, you moved to bottom-placed Premier League club Norwich City. What was behind the decision?

''I felt the urge to try something new in my career and had the feeling that I had to leave Germany for a bit. I was at a good age to take this step and not having a wife or children means you are more flexible. Looking back on it now, unfortunately I didn't pick the perfect time with the Covid pandemic, but I've still had some really exciting experiences here. When I got the opportunity to play in the Premier League, of course I wanted to take it. It's fantastic that we've managed to go straight back up, meaning I'll get a second chance to play in packed stadiums.''

After your move, you were able to have the experience you were looking for. However, you soon had to play in front of empty stands - including for the entirety of the promotion season. How did that feel?

''Although celebrating promotion was a huge success for us, the season as a whole was really lacking in emotion. It was very hard to accept that the fans weren't there; after all, that was the reason I moved to England. The first couple of months after the move were incredible. Football here is all about the emotions and the fans. There are a lot of old stadiums where the spectators sit right by the sidelines and cheer you on as you warm up. All of a sudden, that was gone. It just felt like we were playing friendly games. In that situation it makes no difference if you're playing in the Premier League, the Bundesliga or Sunday league. I played in almost all of the top clubs' stadiums - always in front of empty stands. You think to yourself: this can't be real. I'll really have to experience it again with the fans.''

The Norwich squad contains talents like Max Aarons, sought after by several top clubs, and experienced players like you or former Schalke man Teemu Pukki. There are also several Germans, like Moritz Leitner and Marco Stiepermann, and the team is coached by former Dortmund youth coach Daniel Farke...

''Norwich are a unique club here and very much the German club in England. And yet, particularly to begin with, I was interested in being the foreigner myself. In Germany, I sometimes wondered why foreign players always hung out with each other, why they didn't do things with the other players, why there were always little groups being formed. Now I'm here in England and I've realised: I do the exact same thing, I spend a lot of time with the Germans. I've actively tried to resist this and have managed to become a bit more open.''

How did you find moving abroad by yourself? 

"I used to live very independently, but it was different to be alone and far away from home during the pandemic. I couldn't see any friends, I couldn't fly to Germany. So I was glad that my brother lives in London and we could meet up. Apart from that, people here were very concerned about the virus and there was hardly any personal contact. Fortunately, Norwich is a beautiful city with great beaches nearby. But of course the weather here is terrible." (laughs)

While curfews have been imposed in Germany, pubs have reopened in England and a small number of fans have been allowed back into stadiums. How does it feel?

''There is a great sense of relief, the joie de vivre has returned. I'm very confident that life will more or less be back to normal from June onwards. If the majority of people have been vaccinated, maybe we can hold a public celebration before the start of the new season. If you achieve promotion to the Premier League, of course you want to celebrate it with the fans.''