After two months of suffering through rehabilitation, Werder defender Per Mertesacker is giving his all in training camp in Bad Waltersdorf. WERDER.DE talked to the defensive ace.

Per, very few players look forward to a training camp. But you have not shown that the past few days.

Well, the end of last season was very, very bitter for me. After the long rehab, it’s nice to see the colleagues again. I was really very much looking forward to the days with the team.

How much did it hurt to watch the finals in Istanbul and Berlin?

To miss two finals at the end of the season for which you worked hard all year is really tough for sure. We saved ourselves through that and then not being able to play is not a good feeling. I needed three weeks to get over that.

As the new official vice-captain, you have received a new important role.

But I think we need to have a long talk and the coach needs to say what he wants from me. I don’t think it will be a minor thing. And you do prepare differently when you have a certain role given to you. Still, this is not a new duty for me. With my work in the middle of the defence, I have already had a major role in the team. Now I will continue that in this new function.

Can you take something for this new duty from former captain Frank Baumann?

Baumi had a very calm, level headed style. He always was calm in difficult situations, which was very important. He addressed issues businesslike. And he played a big part to our success. (Captain) Torsten (Frings) and I have big footsteps to fill, but we had a lot of chances to watch him.