Gnabry: "The whole of Germany is excited about this game"

Pre-season is over, the new Bundesliga season is kicking off on Friday. How's it going in Munich at your new club?

"It's going well, I'm training outside again and hopefully I'll soon be doing so with the team again. But the match against Hoffenheim comes a little too soon for me, I've only been training individually so far."

Is there still a lot of excitement for the clash between your new and former clubs?

"First and foremost, I'm looking forward to seeing my former team-mates: the squad, but also all the support staff too. I'm still in regular contact with a few of the lads. But of course, I'm also happy that the Bundesliga is restarting after the long pre-season. I think the whole of Germany is excited for this game."

Reunited with Sandro Wagner

What was it like being reunited with Sandro Wagner at FC Bayern?

"We get on very well, that made it a little bit easier for me to settle in here at the start. Then there's the fact I know a lot of other players from the national team. I was really looking forward to seeing Sandro here again and I hope we'll soon be playing alongside each other."

You two aside, Sebastian Rudy, Niklas Süle and David Alaba have all played for TSG too, do you sometimes talk with each other about your time in Hoffenheim?

"We do talk every now and again about what that time was like for every individual. Sometimes with David, who was at TSG a long time ago when everything was a bit smaller than now. But I also speak more often with Niklas, Sebastian and Sandro, they all obviously keep a closer eye on TSG than other clubs and wish Hoffenheim every success – except for this Friday."

"A super year with a perfect end"

When you think back about the season with TSG, do you think everything went as you expected before your move to Hoffenheim?

"I have nothing but positive memories from Hoffenheim. I had a super year there that ended perfectly with direct qualification for the Champions League. I think that almost no-one was expecting that, it really was a super finish and the deserved reward for a team that had a super understanding. For me, TSG was the perfect club to continue my development. I felt very happy there."

What are TSG's strengths, what have you been warning your team-mates about?

"Hoffenheim play a super possession-based football with lots of tempo going forward. In footballing terms, TSG are definitely one of the strongest teams in the league. Hoffenheim won't hold back. A coach like Julian Nagelsmann will go into the game full of belief and will motivate his players accordingly. I'm expecting a very open game and must – unfortunately for Hoffenheim – hope that FC Bayern win."

Excitement for the UEFA Champions League

The draw for the group stages of the UEFA Champions League takes place on Friday…

"I'm very excited about that. After the bitter elimination by Liverpool last season, I'll be keeping close tabs on how TSG get on in the Champions League. I hope that they get drawn against a few exciting opponents in the group stage and I'll definitely watch a few of their matches. Perhaps I'll make it to Sinsheim for one of them (laughs)."

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