“We’ve got to get back into our rhythm”

Friedl is back on the ball (Photo: W.DE).

“The first session felt a bit weird, since I’d been out for almost four weeks,” stated the 26-year-old when asked about his return to training. “I felt a bit insecure at the beginning and took a bit of time to get back into the swing of things, but the work that I’ve done so far has gone smoothly.” As a result, Friedl is hoping to start training fully again in the coming weeks. The Green-Whites’ captain explained that he’s looking forward to seeing his teammates on the training pitch again after a long spell on the sidelines. Werder’s number 32 has also been given a boost by the upcoming arrival of his first child. “It’s taken my mind off things a bit. That’s why things have been going so well again,” grinned Friedl.

Fingers crossed for the EUROs

Friedl views the ongoing international break as an opportunity. “The break is really important for me personally, as it means that I have an extra week to work on my recovery,” he explained. It’s a double-edged sword for the defender, however, as it means that he’s missed out on the chance to play for Austria. “I know that I was in the running for the national team, so it’s even more disappointing to be out injured at the moment,” stated Friedl, as he prepares to support his teammates from the comfort of his home. Werder’s captain will be hoping that things are different this summer, however, with Austria travelling to this summer’s European Championships in Germany. “My goal is to be on the plane to Germany, but a lot of things have to come together if that’s going to happen. There’s still a long time to go before the summer, though,” explained Friedl guardedly, before going on to say that he is in regular contact with Austria head coach Ralf Ragnick.