Kramer: We won’t get bogged down

Christoph Kramer discusses the Foals’ DFB Pokal fixture against SV Oberachern, his role in the team and the aims for the new Bundesliga season.

Chris, around four weeks of pre-season are now behind you. What have you made of this period?

Kramer: The pre-season was very hard, but I had a lot of fun. Overall, it was simply important that we had a new approach.

How is working with Head Coach Daniel Farke going so far?

Kramer: Good. He has made an excellent impression. I like his approach to football and how he goes about things. The coach has certainly breathed new life into the team. You can see the sense of optimism and you get the feeling that something new is beginning here. That was important not just for the confidence of the players, but also for the staff and the fans.

You got a lot of playing time in pre-season. How satisfied are you with how things are personally at the moment?

Kramer: Last season I struggled with thigh problems and the summer break did a lot of good for me. I now have one or two exercises for my thigh that give me a sense of security, so I’m feeling satisfied.

How do you personally view your current role in the squad?

Kramer: I always find it very difficult to discuss your own role in the team. But I think it’s just like previous years: I always try to be a good example and give it everything. I speak a lot, support my teammates and I’m a fun guy in the dressing room. That is my role.

On Sunday you will play your first competitive match in the DFB Pokal against Oberliga opponents SV Oberachern. What will be the key there?

Kramer: I’m happy that we’re playing in Freiburg, because I really want to win at that ground. And we will do everything to achieve that. We are playing against an Oberliga team – our opponents will sit back, because that’s the only option they have. We want to approach the game in such a way that we wrap it up early because it can get tough against such an opponent. Our task will, therefore, will be to not get bogged down. We have to be ready right from the start, be mentally prepared, and not let the opposition even get a look-in.

Since you mention it, the match will not be played at SVO’s regular home ground, but at Freiburg's Dreisamstadion. Could that prove to be a small advantage for you?

Kramer: Yes, 100 percent. The pitch is at least three or four meters longer and wider than that of a lower-league ground. For a team that will be moving around a lot and won’t have much possession, that’s a clear disadvantage, that’s why we are happy to be playing there.

On the following Saturday, the Bundesliga gets underway. What goals are you taking into the season?

Kramer: I’m not a big fan of setting goals. The best example of that for me is last year, when we set ourselves a lot of targets at the start, and by the end we were fighting to avoid relegation. So there’s no point in laying out targets. Of course, we are ambitious and driven. You simply to have to approach every game in a way that you can win it. The only thing I do hope for is that everyone can once again identify with the team. Then it would be very successful season, regardless of where we finish in the table.

The campaign kicks off with a home fixture against TSG Hoffenheim. What do you expect from the opener?

Kramer: The first game is always something special. Just like us, Hoffenheim have a new coach and a new approach. It therefore has nothing to do with the last game of last season, which we won decisively. It’s on Saturday at 15:30 CEST, so it will probably be a warm summer’s day. It will be a very, very nice day to play football. We are looking forward to it.