Akpoguma: "It's important to lay good foundations"

Akpo, how did you spend the summer break?

"I used the time and went on holiday a lot. I was in different countries and really relaxed very well. It is going to be an exciting season and we won't have a lot of time to rest due to the European competition. The long summer break was therefore very important."

What are your first impressions from pre-season?

"I'm positively surprised by the lads from the U23s and U19s who are currently training with us. They are making a very good impression. It's fun with them and you can see the previous U19 year group really had unbelievable quality. I'm delighted that they're with us and that they can showcase themselves. But at the same time, I'm also delighted about the fact that several lads who were out for a long time due to injury last season are back on the pitch and giving a good account of themselves. Currently, it's all about settling in well. Later in the training camp, everyone will be back on board and we will then see what the lay of the land is."

You mentioned the youngsters. How confident are they after winning the double?

"They have a healthy dose of self-confidence but are by no means arrogant. For them, it is currently very helpful to be with several others whom they know, that gives them a good feeling. If you come up to the first-team squad on your own, you tend to be slightly more reserved. Now it's easy for them to acclimatise. Almost all of the other players are still very young, which makes it very easy for the new players right now. Hoffenheim are known for producing young talent and you can see that is again the case with them."

Are the pre-season preparations different compared to previous years due to the European games?

"At the moment, it's important to lay good physical foundations so that we can keep going throughout the season. The training sessions are not different to previous years but we're training intensively, a lot and in a focused manner. When you're under strain during the season, it's important to be at 100% at all times."

It's still a little way off, but TSG are finally going to play on the international stage again. What are you most looking forward to as a player?

"The new format alone already makes it very interesting. The teams that have already qualified are also very renowned. I'm looking forward to competing against big clubs like Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and AS Roma and then showing that we can also hold our own against big teams. We already proved that in the final game last season. At the same time, competing on two fronts also represents an opportunity for the talented youngsters who perform well to be thrown on."