Behind the scenes: Press conference with Kevin Volland

In order to accommodate all of the questions, interviews were organised. A club representative was in charge to help with the questions from the media. On Tuesday, in a prepared room in Leogang, attacker Kevin Volland was the first to answer questions. The 20-year-old sat there, with three journalists around him and a photographer who ceaselessly snapped away.

How was your holiday? How did you find the European U21 Championship? Have you processed your early exit from the tournament? Are you looking forward to the new season? How is the atmosphere in the team? What personal goals have you set yourself for the season? What goal has the team got? How has preseason been so far? Is Markus Gisdol demanding more than he did in the final stretch of last season? The questions were abundant but the club's best scorer (goals and assists) last season, answered them all. 30 minutes later, he headed to training in Saalfelden.

Kevin Volland talks:

about his holiday...

I had three and a half weeks of simply relaxing by the sea and then with my family. By the end of the holiday though, I was itching to play football again.

about the return to training...

I feel good. The freshness is there but there's still a bit left. I've only been training with the team for about a week.

about the end of the 2012/13...

It was pretty amazing that we managed it to be honest. It was a tough year mentally as well because we were always under pressure to win games. I think based on the way we performed towards the end of the season that we deserved to stay in the division. I recognised in some games that after 80 minutes, I was wiped out.

about the season ahead...

We don't want to play another season like last year. I am convinced that it won't happen either. The manager is preparing us in the best possible way and sends players onto the pitch with clear tasks. If they can execute them and everyone pushes hard for the team, then it will work.

about new signing Anthony Modeste...

He probably needs a bit more time but you can see the potential. He scored 15 goals in Ligue 1 last year, you've got to have something about you to do that...

about his second season at Hoffenheim...

My first season for the club didn't go as planned but we saved ourselves. For me personally, things went well. I came from the second division and realised soon afterwards that I could keep pace. Picking up a lot of scorer points (assists and goals) is something I want to achieve again this season. But I'm not thinking about it. My goal is simply to give a top performance in every game.