Pirmin Schwegler: “I have a small advantage”

Hello, Pirmin. You were here in Johannesburg one day before the team. How did that come about?

Pirmin Schwegler: I spent my vacation in Cape Town so I the chance was there to combine both my holiday and the training camp. The journey on Wednesday night went without a fuss, as the flight only lasted two hours. I am relaxed and feel good. I think I have a small advantage over the others, as I do not have to deal with a long flight from Germany (laughs).

How were your holidays?

Schwegler: Very nice. It was my first time in South Africa. The trip has left an impression on me because I've learnt a bit about the country's history. It is only the second time that I have come to this continent. The first time was at the 2010 World Cup but unfortunately I did not play any games for Switzerland.

Have you kept yourself fit?

Schwegler: Of course, that's part of being a professional. It was good to have a few days' rest at the beginning, but then I started running again. I think that in terms of fitness I haven't lost much of it, just like the others.

Andreas Beck also spent his holiday in Cape Town. Did you meet up with him?

Schwegler: Yes, we arranged something. You don't meet by chance in a place like this.

What are your first impressions of the facilities here?

Schwegler: That's the most important thing about a training camp – the location, the hotel and also the food has to suit us. Up until now that has definitely been the case. The weather conditions are very good.

How important are the days in Johannesburg?

Schwegler: Extremely important. We want to work well and hard as a team here. We will be on the pitch a lot, practising some new things and refining others. The season is long and we will lay down the foundations in these ten days so that we can have a good second half of the campaign. And we will do that with the best team spirit, which is already apparent once again following our first few hours together. In addition to the training we will also have a good time.