Rudy: ''I'm absolutely delighted to be back here''

After two years away, Sebastian Rudy is back at TSG. The midfielder returned to the Kraichgau in the summer after spending a year at Bayern Munich and FC Schalke 04 respectively. ''The seven years I spent here were really something special for me. It's something I'll never forget. That's why I'm so happy to be back. It was a conscious decision on my part to return here,'' says Rudy in his interview for the 11 September edition of the club magazine SPIELFELD.

The Black Forest native has rejoined TSG on a loan deal from FC Schalke 04, but he hopes that his time in Sinsheim will extend beyond the end of this agreement. ''I one hundred percent want to stay here for longer. I can definitely envisage ending my career at TSG. I've grown incredibly fond of both the club and the local region. I have a lot of friends here. People are easy to get along with, everything just feels right. I also really appreciate the effort made by the club to recruit me. I had no doubts about where I wanted to continue my career.''

The Matchday 2 encounter with Werder Bremen at the PreZero Arena marked Rudy's competitive comeback as a TSG player. The club's home ground remains a special place for him. ''The stadium is a little treasure. It's become my sporting home. There's no other ground in which I've played so many games. There's a welcoming atmosphere around the place on matchdays, you come to recognise a lot of the fans and it just all feels very pleasant and personal. I'm always happy playing here.''

The midfielder has also been impressed by new head coach Alfred Schreuder. ''Alfred is someone who knows me well and is aware of my strengths. He's always left me convinced in one-on-one discussions: convinced of how he wants us to play, of what he expects from me,'' says the 27-year-old Germany international. ''He works in a very meticulous manner, and always outlines exactly what it is he wants us to do. Back when he was an assistant coach he always used to chat to the players, talk them through the finer details, offer helpful suggestions. He's a really positive guy and will do a lot of good here at TSG.''