Youth trio and a rugby ball in training | OneFootball

Rugby player Anton Segner practised with the goalkeepers while 11 outfield players worked on the pitch.

As the goalkeepers stepped onto the pitch on a foggy Wednesday morning, a rugby ball suddenly flew across the pitch. Kaua Santos, Amil Siljevic, Jens Grahl and Michael Zetterer visibly enjoyed throwing and kicking the unfamiliar ball, which they were using in honour of training guest Anton Segner, who’s been playing rugby in New Zealand for the last eight years.

Meanwhile, 11 outfield players practised busily on the pitches at Deutsche Bank Park. Not among them were Oscar Højlund and Can Uzun, who are in rehab after injuries, nor Jean-Mattéo Bahoya and Farès Chaibi (treatment/individual training) or Mario Götze (individual training).

Three youngsters involved

Midfielder Metehan Yildirim as well as defenders Jeremiaha Maluze and Yannis Ahouannou from the youth teams took part in the session. After working up a sweat with Segner in the gym, the goalkeepers started on the pitch with some contact warm-ups from rugby. The 24-year-old Frankfurt native is currently in the off-season in New Zealand. 

“It was fortunate that I could come to training today,” said Segner with a smile afterwards. “It was impressive to see how the guys work. The warm-up exercises are good for the muscles of the neck and abdomen, which the keepers need. You can tell they have very good coordination and body control.”

Zetterer was pleased to have something different in training and summed up the new impetus provided by Segner: “It was tiring but certainly fun. The exercises were a bit like wrestling.”

Looking ahead: on the pitch and days off

Zetterer and the other players who aren’t on international duty have another session on Thursday before four days off. Training resumes after the international break next Tuesday ahead of the Bundesliga match at 1. FC Köln on Saturday 22 November (18:30 CET).