Excerpts from the interview.
Philipp, how many training camps have you attended?
“I’ve been a pro for 12 years... I was injured a couple of times... so I guess it’s approximately my 22nd training camp.”
You’ve had camps supervised by various coaches: Hermann Gerland, Ottmar Hitzfeld, Felix Magath, Louis van Gaal and Pep Guardiola to name but a few. Whose camps were the toughest?
“Felix Magath’s. Running and circuit training were the top priorities. It was torture at times and can’t be compared to a camp like the one here with Pep Guardiola.”
Why is the time spent at a training camp more valuable than simply working out on the practice ground at home?
“On the one hand it’s due to the much better weather elsewhere compared to Munich in January, and on the other you’re more focused. There are no distractions. You relax between the two workouts each day, and you don’t go straight home after the second one, you go for treatment. You have plenty of time for yourself and your body.”
Does the 32-year-old Philipp Lahm approach a training camp differently compared to the 20-year-old you?
“I certainly have different feelings about the week spent at the camp. I have a family now and it’s always a shame when I’m away travelling. You don’t think about that kind of thing as a younger man.”
Bayern’s football has been dominant, flexible and successful so far this season. Is there anything left to work on?
“You can always fine-tune and improve, and that’s what we’re working on. It’s also important we get the injured players back. We’ve laid solid foundations, but you always have to take the season as a whole. We have to win trophies.”
After training you’re often involved in spontaneous and very lively crossbar challenges. Will we see a contest or two here in Doha?
“I’m sure we will. It’s great fun. The vital thing is to get as many points as possible right at the start so you don’t end up as what we call the Arschbolzen in goal (laughs). But up to now I can’t complain.”
(ww.fcbayern.de)
Bayern Munich put 15-year-old through paces at Qatar training camp
Christian Fruechtl is swapping school for training with Bayern Munich at the German champions’ midseason camp in Doha.
Bayern coach Pep Guardiola. PICTURES: Othman Iraqi
At just 15, Fruechtl is the youngest of coach Pep Guardiola’s 29-strong squad in Qatar - but at 1.90m tall doesn’t really have to look up to the more senior Bayern players.
The young goalkeeper is training with World Cup winner Manuel Neuer and the Bayern reserve keepers Sven Ulreich and Tom Starke, parrying shots from the likes of Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Mueller.
Sport director Matthias Sammer says Fruechtl’s young years are hardly noticeable on the training ground.
It’s “very early” for a 15-year-old to train with the first team “but he doesn’t look 15,” he said. “He has a lot to offer. He’s interesting and good.”
Fruechtl lives in Bayern’s youth centre for upcoming talent - which has housed the likes of Bastian Schweinsteiger, David Alaba, Owen Hargreaves or Holger Badstuber - and plays for the Under-16 team.
He has been given a few days extra school holiday to join the senior professionals and four other junior players at the camp in Qatar.
