Wednesday afternoon, 15:30 CEST, Posthotel Zillertal. Marco Grüll has been gaining impressions of his new sporting home since his arrival at SV Werder Bremen’s preseason training camp. First conversations with teammates, his introduction to the squad and finally his first training session with the team. I’m happy...,” said Grüll smiling to the journalists who joined him in the mixed zone, “...that everything’s finally getting underway.”
As a member of the Austria national team squad at EURO 2024, Grüll was given additional time off, as was his international teammate Romano Schmid. Austria were unfortunately knocked out in the last 16 by Türkiye; Grüll didn’t make an appearance during the tournament. “Obviously I had hoped to play, but I’m happy just to have been there,” explained the 26-year-old. “Already knowing one player a little bit in the shape of Romano made it easier for me. Nevertheless, absolutely everyone welcomed me really nicely.”
Grüll was called up for EURO 2024 by Austria head coach Ralf Rangnick based on the very strong season he had at Rapid Vienna. The five-time Austria international was the second top-scorer in the Austrian Bundesliga last season, scoring 13 goals. “I want to integrate myself at Werder, work hard in training and put in the same kind of performances that I showed at Rapid,” said Grüll, who can play in various attacking roles. “I can play in all positions upfront, but have recently been playing mostly off the left.”
The attacker has already put the foundations in place to get off to a successful start at the Green-Whites. Following positive conversations with club management and head coach Ole Werner, the Schwarzach-born striker made up his mind early on a move to Bremen and has already found a flat in his new home. “I have already learnt that you say ‘moin’ [North German way of saying hello] here, I have to remind myself of that pretty often,” grins Grüll. “It is something new again to start with and I have to find my feet initially, but as I said, everyone has been really helpful and I feel very at home.”
Our new #⃣1⃣7⃣! #werderpic.twitter.com/H9kETOUngG
— SV Werder Bremen EN (@werderbremen_en) July 25, 2024
