The representatives of the press had to wait for Christian Groß for just under a quarter of an hour on Wednesday afternoon. The training session had gone overtime. The Green-Whites' preparations for the first Bundesliga clash of the year in Cologne on Saturday (21.01.2023, 18.30 CET) are apparently in full swing. Or to put it in the words of Groß: "We're preparing intensively for Cologne and will do everything we can to get the three points."
The top division in German has been on hold since November 13th due to both the traditional winter break, but also the World Cup. The midfielder stressed that the length of the pause has felt unfamiliar for the players. “The break was really long, it’s not often the case to go so long without playing a competitive game of football. Each team was a little bit in the dark with regards to the whole situation. For the veteran, however, there was also a personal positive note to the time off. "I was happy to be able to spend a few days with my family," said Groß. "With Christmas and New Year's Eve, there was always something going on anyway, especially as a family man. So, the break didn't feel that long."
The anticipation for the first competitive match of the year is high and is currently engulfing the entire club. The 33-year-old can also feel it. "After such a long break, you can't wait for this. A nice away game with a great atmosphere. That's what the Bundesliga is all about," Groß enthused.
However, the veteran did not ignore the challenges that the team face when taking on their opponents on the Rhine. “Everyone who follows Köln knows what the game will be about. We’re expecting lots of intensity and plenty of duels. We have to be up to the task from minute one.” Groß does see the team as being on the right track in order to be prepared for the difficult task ahead. “We had a good friendly against Schalke, which pushed us and got us going in the right direction. We will see how far along we are this weekend.”
