It’s understandable, particularly in this difficult time, that the structure of the team is valued, especially in the eyes of the public. The fact that it hasn’t been affected by the numerous restrictions and hygiene regulations put in place isn’t something to be taken lightly. Joking around in the dressing room, having team bonding sessions; none of this is possible at the moment.
And, in spite of this, both the team and the staff have managed to keep up the positive energy around the club. “Of course it’s not the same as it was before, even in the dressing room, but it’s still possible to enjoy ourselves as a team,” explains Baumann, who states there is a lot of conversation during meal times, even if this is done with large gaps throughout the dining room. There are now three to four players per table, as opposed to the usual eight. “We’ve maintained the structure of the team,” said the sporting director.
Even before the restart of the season, Baumann compared the current situation to a major tournament. This is exactly how the team should treat all of their remaining games. The 44-year-old has already gained this experience himself at the 2002 World Cup and 2004 European Championship. “We spend lots of time together and have one communal goal to work towards,” said Baumann. But, just as it is in major tournaments, the important weeks are still ahead of us. There’s a lot of work to be done!
