Maximilian Mittelstädt and his VfB Stuttgart colleagues went on a bike ride on Thursday morning at their training camp at Lake Tegernsee, cycling several kilometres around the local area. “It was nice to do something a bit different,” said the left-back. “Coming back was easier as it was more downhill.”
New pre-season experience
Among other things, Sebastian Hoeneß’s team are working on their build-up play, transitions and fitness at the camp. “We want to lay the foundations for a successful season,” continued Mittelstädt, who has been at the club since summer 2023. Even though he is now going into his third full campaign with VfB, being able to take part in a full pre-season programme is something new for him.
“I had an injury in my first year here, so pre-season was a bit shorter for me,” the 28-year-old said. “And in my second year I had an extended holiday because I’d been away at the 2024 European Championship.” As such, he is currently enjoying the preparations for 2025/26, even if it is tough.
“VfB is blossoming“
“We’ve got a good team in which everyone is largely familiar with how we play,” Mittelstädt continued. “We’ve got a good structure both on and off the pitch. We want to continue on this path that we’re on. VfB is blossoming thanks to the club’s popularity, fans are turning up in large numbers everywhere, it’s a really good time for us and we hope it continues like this.”
With that in mind and in order to keep it that way, the hardships of pre-season training are easier to bear - after all, it’s for a good cause.
The Cannstatt boys will round off the camp with a friendly against French Ligue 1 side FC Toulouse, who ended last season in 10th place. The game in Heimstetten, near Munich, will kick off at 15:00 CEST on Saturday 2 August.
