Andreas Beck: "Always adding to the jigsaw"

Hello Andreas. Thursday (24th July) is the second day in Switzerland. How are you finding Vierwaldstättersee?

Andreas Beck: The training facilities and the hotel are both very good. It's in a great location and the hotel has everything that you want – wellbeing facilities, fitness area, good food. The countryside is also superb. The view of the lake is astounding. Furthermore the air has been very pleasant so far. That helps us not only in training but also with recovery.

Sejad Salihovic and Ermin Bicakcic were the final two players to join up with the squad on Wednesday morning. Ermin is one of the new arrivals. What's your impression of him so far?

Beck: I actually knew Ermin a bit before he joined Hoffenheim. We played together in the youth setup in Stuttgart; we never played together though as he's about three years younger than me but we know one another through the Bundesliga. He's proven his worth in the league and put in some great performances at the World Cup in Brazil. I hope that he can take us that extra step forward and further increase the competition for places within the camp. We're on the whole happy that we are complete as a team now.

There's another new addition in the form of Adam Szalai who you already know from your youth career with VfB…

Beck: Adam was a very close friend when we were together in Stuttgart. We haven't let that friendship slip in recent years either. We've spoken when we meet in the league, but in between those matches, there's also occasions when we'd send each other an SMS or message on Whatsapp when he scores or when we have a good game. We've quickly rediscovered our understanding and that's why we're sharing a room too.

The friendly match weeks between both training camps were successful. How happy were you with the performances?

Beck: The games definitely weren't the most important of games but we certainly found ome of our weak points and I think we've addressed those issues well on the pitch. A lot of work lies ahead of us of course. The better the opponents in pre-season, the more intensive we have to work, which will also help us in the Bundesliga. That intensity will increase in the weeks leading up to the start of the season. The game against Zürich awaits us in the coming weeks – that's something different than before. The first phase of training is now behind us. Now it's all about the fine details – technically as well as tactically. We're ready to give it our all two, three times a day.

Eugen Polanski and Tarik Elyounoussi have sustained injuries in the friendly matches. How big a loss are they in Switzerland?

Beck: For the pair of them and for the team as a whole, it's a great shame that they can't be here from the start as now is a crucial time in pre-season training. But we have a great medical department here at TSG, who will get them both back on their feet in no time in a sustainable manner. Both have been with us for quite a while now and know our style of play and brand of football. Therefore we they'll work their way back into the side quickly. I hope that they'll return to us as quickly as possible.

It's now just four weeks until the first competitive game of the new season in the DFB-Pokal. What do you make of the team at the moment?

Beck: It's difficult to say. Four weeks is a long time and we still have a lot more to do. The new players have to gel well and get on the same wavelength as the rest of the side so that we can dictate the tempo of a game for the full 90 minutes. We approach our work with full enthusiasm and happiness – that's a very good basis.