After the first training session of 2026/27, VfB head coach Sebastian Hoeneß spoke about…
… fans’ support as training resumed: “We haven’t seen our fans for a long time due to the summer break, so that made it all the nicer to see so many of them at our first training session. We’re very happy to have their support.”
… his impression of the team during the first session: “I had a good and positive impression. I like the energy of the first training sessions: everything feels fresh and full of energy, and that was tangible today. I saw a lot of good things and I’m pleased with the way we started.”
… the importance of pre-season training: “We’re going into a season with real ambitions in the Champions League, Bundesliga and DFB Cup. That will be very challenging, as we experienced two years ago. With that in mind, we’ll have to make the most of pre-season to prepare ourselves well.”
… the structure of pre-season: “We want to keep improving throughout pre-season, and we chose our friendly matches accordingly. We’ll push ourselves during pre-season but we’ll also enjoy it. We’ve got exciting friendlies against very different opponents. Of course, the opener against Everton and the trip to Fulham are two standout fixtures.”
… the start of the Bundesliga season on 28 August 2026 against Bayern München: “For the time being, we’re focusing on the first few weeks of training. It’s a difficult first Bundesliga game, but there’s never a perfect time to play Bayern anyway. We’re just taking it as it comes. Our task now is to lay the foundation in pre-season so that we can get off to a successful start.”
