Florian Kainz has been
in pre-season for six weeks already. He returned to training at former club
Rapid Vienna on 10th June, even taking part in a friendly before joining
Werder. Kainz kept working individually until training resumed in Bremen and
unsurprisingly he is extremely eager for the real season to kick-off.
WERDER.DE met with Kainz in his home country Austria, where Werder are currently in their second phase of pre-season. In this "four-four-two" check-up, Kainz responds to personal, sporting related and two extraordinary questions, as he explains what he would do differently in life if given the chance, which of his many tattoos he regrets and what's hidden inside team mate Thanos Petsos' garage.
# The one thing you absolutely can't forget to pack in your suitcase before going to a training camp is...
"... my toiletry bag. Since you don't need any clothes or other things during a training camp, it's the most important and only thing that I can't forget to pack."
# In Bremen I've already seen...
"... the Weser Stadium and many, many apartments (laughs). But fortunately I found one now. Due to our pre-season, I've only seen the market place, the town hall and some of the Schlachte (river promenade). But it's a beautiful city and the Weser reminds me a lot of the Danube in Vienna. Hopefully I will find some time soon to see more of the city."
# The first piece of furniture that you brought into your new apartment was...
"... my TV. There is a couch in there now as well, but at the moment I'm still living with Thanos Petsos. We were neighbours in Vienna and know each other very well, so we organised our move to Bremen together. But since I didn't have my own place yet for this whole time, I stored all my things in his garage. Now I'm moving my stuff over to my own place, before a second load will arrive when my girlfriend comes down from Vienna. Everything is a bit complicated, but since Thanos has many unpacked boxes laying around himself and his girlfriend isn’t in Bremen yet either, as we have little free time during pre-season, it's all working out quite well. I just hope that I will be able to sleep in my own apartment after pre-season."
# As a child my hero was...
"... Ronaldinho. He embodies pure joy of football in my eyes. And to me he is the best player to have played the game."
# My worst injury was...
"... A calf injury that had me sidelined for three months. It was in 2012 and I needed surgery, just as my club, Sturm Graz, installed Peter Hyballa as our new manager. It was unfortunate timing, but I returned stronger and was able to establish myself again. Fortunately it was the first and so far only serious injury I've sustained. Knock on wood that it stays that way!"
# When I can't fall asleep after a game...
"... I watch TV. But most of the time there isn't anything good to watch that late. So I just watch the highlights of the other games over and over again until I fall asleep. I often struggle to fall asleep right away after a game. It always depends how much I actually played in the game, whether it was the full 90 minutes of just for part of the game."
# The thing I hate the most about football is...
"... pre-season (laughs). But that's something you have to accept as a football player. Friendly games are especially different to competitive matches in the season. I already feel a tingle when I think about our first Bundesliga game. Fortunately we are playing good teams in pre-season with Chelsea, Real Betis and 1860 München, which makes it more enjoyable."
# The biggest difference to training at Rapid is...
"... that I have to completely prove myself here again. No one knows who I am. The intensity of our pre-season is much higher than in Vienna, also because it's longer. I still have to get used to that, but I feel very comfortable here."
# If there is one thing I could do again in life it would be...
"... finishing my school. I discontinued it at the time and fortunately I was able to have a career in football. But if I could go back today, I would complete my school."
# The tattoo I regret the most is...
"... my initials tattooed near my wrist, simply because you always see it. I had it done when I was still in school and it was by my own design. It's the only tattoo I would not get again."
