The Werder professionals have been working in their training camp in Belek, Turkey, since Thursday. And this time around the defensive giant Per Mertesacker has been there from the start...
The Werder professionals have been working in their training camp in Belek, Turkey, since Thursday. And this time around the defensive giant Per Mertesacker has been there from the start...
The Werder professionals have been working in their training camp in Belek, Turkey, since Thursday. And this time around the defensive giant Per Mertesacker has been there from the start. "Merte" missed the start of last summer’s preparations after playing in the European Championship in Austria and Switzerland. "I had a tough time in the first half. Missing time in the preparations was a major reason why I didn’t start so well this season," admitted the 24-year-old.
That’s why it’s so important that the international defender complete the entire preparation program with the team. "I head into the second half and the new year with a good feeling. And I see enormous potential for me as well as the entire team, " said Mertesacker. "I have planned quite a bit for the new year. I would like to show that I am very motivated – also in regards to the up-coming World Cup season, which is very important for me. Things were starting to get better for me at the end of the first half. The last couple of games gave me more self-assurance. "
As usual, the first important tasks of the new year come quite quickly. The Green-Whites’ first competitive match is just 17 days away. On 28 January, 2009, Werder face Borussia Dortmund in the DFB Cup Round of 16 – exactly the same match as one year ago to the day. "We have to be convincing straight away. It is a knockout game, and it will be a key contest just like last year. Until then we have to get perfectly fit," said Mertesacker, who despite being just 24 is already one of the most experienced players in the Green-Whites squad. "We’re fired up for these types of games, which mean something. And we have to be there from the first minute on."
