11 intense days of training have come to an end in Zillertal. For Horst Steffen, it marked a first pre-season training camp in charge of SV Werder Bremen. Speaking to WERDER.DE, the 56-year-old looked back on the time in Austria, discussing new tactical elements, fitness levels and standout moments both on and off the pitch.
It was Werder’s 14th time heading to Zillertal for their summer training camp. For many of the players, it was familiar ground – particularly for local boy and club captain Marco Friedl. For head coach Horst Steffen, however, it was all new. Across the 11 days, the focus was on refining tactical principles, building match fitness and sharpening physical condition.
Despite two goalless draws against Parma and two defeats to league rivals Hoffenheim (1-0 and 3-0), Steffen still saw clear progress in the team since the start of pre-season: “We’ve definitely made physical gains over the past days. The lads embraced the intensity from the start, and our playing style was well received. Unfortunately, we didn’t quite manage to execute it in the games, but I’m confident that’s only a matter of time. Overall, it was a really productive training camp.”
Off the pitch, Steffen also praised the setup provided by the Posthotel and the way the group came together over the course of the stay: “We had a fantastic hotel with unbelievably good food. The lads were really comfortable there and spent a lot of time together. That’s something you don’t see as clearly back home, and these insights are exactly what you get from a training camp. It’s good for us as a team.”
The coach in focus ???? #werder
— SV Werder Bremen EN (@en.werder.de) 22. Juli 2025 um 18:28
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Even on arrival in Zillertal, the travelling party was greeted by a crowd of Werder fans, young and old. After each training session, Steffen took time to sign autographs and pose for selfies. The warmth and backing from the supporters made a big impression on the new head coach: “The support from the fans here massively exceeded my expectations. Just the number of them – the whole village was decked out in green and white. That really stood out.”
After a weekend off, the team will move into the final stage of their preparations. The official season opener will be on Saturday, 9th August 2025 (15:30 CEST), when Werder welcome Udinese to the Weserstadion. For Steffen, it’ll be another first as he makes his touchline at the home of the Green-Whites: “We’ll raise the intensity again now so we’re fully ready when the competitive games begin.”
