So long, Neuruppin! With yesterday's 1-1 draw with Hansa Rostock, Werder have completed the first chapter of their preparations for next season. The team toiled away for six days in the Fontanestadt and despite the soaring temperatures were able to lay the foundations ahead of a long campaign. Alongside friendlies against the Rostock side and MSV Neuruppin (an 11-0 victory), Werder were put through various high intensity training sessions, long distance runs and strength and conditioning sessions.

"We've had the perfect conditions for a training camp here in Neuruppin. The pitches were brilliantly maintained, we stayed in a fantastic hotel where the boys were able to rest and recuperate in the spa area after training, and also where we were never left wanting for anything - both by the hotel "Resort Mark Brandenburg" and also by our partner Match IQ. And also the fact that we were able to show ourselves off in a new region was really important for us - we have definitely been able to connect to a new fan base," praised sporting director Thomas Eichin.

For head coach Viktor Skripnik, the main goal in Brandenburg was for the players to give everything and to lay the foundations for next season. "I'm very pleased. Aside from the injury to Lukas Fröde, I have no complaints. We've worked at a high intensity, the boys have really toiled away and they're all exhausted now. But I'm very satisfied with the current physical condition of the team," said the head coach.

For this first stage of pre-season there was an "intensive plan", outlined by Skripnik before Werder's departure for Neuruppin, which has now been completed. After a short stop-over in Bremen, the team will then travel on Friday evening to Salzburg, where they will compete in a pre-season tournament with Southampton, Valencia and the Austrian hosts. After that, Werder will travel on to Zillertal. "There we want to take the next step. We'll introduce a lot more work with the ball in Austria - we want to work on our technique, shooting and one-on-one situations," said Skripnik.

"I'm happy that we'll go back to having the ball at our feet in Zillertal, instead of just fitness work. But those training sessions will definitely also take it out of us," reported Fin Bartels. Nevertheless, the midfielder is looking forward to a brief visit home in order to spend time with his family in Bremen. "At home we'll be able to catch a breath and recharge our batteries, which is really important. But before that we'll all see each other back on the pitch tomorrow," said Bartels with a grin. And he's right - the Werder first team will only have a short time to relax, before taking to the field at 15:00 CEST today (Wednesday) for another training session.

Werder Bremen's 2015 summer schedule (all times CEST):

Saturday, 11th July: Audi Quattro Cup against Valencia, Red Bull Salzburg and Southampton, Red Bull Arena, Salzburg

12th-19th July: Second training camp in Zell am Ziller

Wednesday, 15th July, 17:00: Friendly, TSV 1860 Munich vs. Werder Bremen, Parkstadion, Zell am Ziller

Saturday, 18th July, 13:00: Friendly FC Zbrojovka Brno vs. Werder Bremen, Parkstadion, Zell am Ziller

Wednesday, 22nd July, 18.30: Friendly, Blumenthaler SV vs. Werder Bremen, Burgwall-Stadion, Bremen

Saturday, 25th July, starting at 11:00: FOREVER GREEN & WHITE - Fans' Day, Weser-Stadion, Bremen

Saturday, 25th July, 17:00: Friendly, Werder Bremen vs. Sevilla FC, Weser-Stadion, Bremen

Sunday, 2nd August, 16:00: Friendly, West Ham United vs. Werder Bremen, Boleyn Ground, London

7th-10th August: DFB Cup - 1st Round, Würzburger Kickers vs. Werder Bremen, flyeralarm Arena, Würzburg

14th-16th August: Bundesliga - Matchday 1

Friday, 4th September, 17:30: Friendly, Heeslinger SC vs.Werder Bremen, Waldstadion, Heeslingen