BVB defensive leader Kempe after training camp: “We’ve Raised the Bar Again” | OneFootball

Training camp is over, and it’s time to head back to Dortmund. How does your body feel?“It’s been an intense few days, so naturally I’m a bit tired now that training camp is over. But I think that’s just part of it. Especially during preseason, it’s important that we work hard.”

What’s your overall take on the training camp?“They were good days. We trained a lot, worked together a lot, and put in a solid performance against a first-division team. Sure, there are things we need to work on and improve, but there were also a lot of positives we can build on. Off the field, we spent a lot of time together, got to know each other better as a team, and continued to grow closer.”

Would you agree that things on the training field have become even louder, faster, and more dynamic– meaning the quality has improved even further?“Absolutely. We’ve gained depth in terms of quality. The new signings are fitting in well and creating a positive atmosphere on the field. Of course, every player has her own strengths that make the game better. That moves us forward as a team and raises the overall quality even further.”

How are you feeling as you look ahead to the start of competitive play?“I’m extremely excited to finally be competing for points again or advancing in the cup. That’s what we’ve been working toward. My anticipation grows more with every week.”

I can imagine that this anticipation wasn’t immediately there on 1 June after missing out on promotion.“That’s true. There was a lot of emptiness and disappointment. It also took me a while to process and put last season behind me. We have to be honest and admit that we didn’t achieve the goals we set for ourselves. That stung for a while. But eventually, you reach a point where you have to let it go because it can’t be changed. That’s why I tried to look ahead at some point and get excited about the new season, the new team, and the new signings.”

Was there a decisive moment, or was it more of a gradual process?“For me, it was more of a gradual process. There were moments here and there when I thought, ‘Hey, this can’t be right.’ But with a little distance – a vacation, clearing my head, and stepping away from the daily grind of soccer – I managed to put the whole thing behind me, move on, and look ahead.”

You’re a very emotional person, and you openly express those emotions both on and off the field – whether it’s joy, fighting spirit, or sadness. What emotions did you go through as you came to terms with it?“First, disappointment. In myself and in the team, because we didn’t manage to be there in the decisive moments. Then anger, too. Certain moments pop into my head where I think, ‘I should have done this or that’ and ‘if only I’d done this or that here and there.’ Sadness, too – sadness that we didn’t achieve the goals we’d set for ourselves. And then a sense of emptiness set in. It was hard to grasp how this could have happened.”

Who or what helped you the most in the process of coming to terms with it?“Of course, my family and close circle of friends, who showed me that, in the end, it’s just football. They made it clear to me that there are more important things in life, that it’s okay for it to hurt right now, but that life goes on. New opportunities will come, and you can start fresh.”

Starting fresh in a new season with new players – who, however, have knocked you from the top spot down to sixth place. You know which category I’m talking about?“Age! That’s right!”

You don’t seem to have a problem with losing the top spot?“Quite the opposite: I’m glad we’ve gained experience. And yes, also that I’m no longer the oldest. In shootouts, though, I’m still on the team Old, which is very important because the team Old usually wins.”

Here’s what we’re getting at: With your experience, you carried the team, especially in the final third of the season – with your passion, your leadership, and, in crucial moments , with goals too. Now players with a lot of experience are joining the team. Do you still see yourself in a leadership role, or will you step back a bit? “I still fundamentally see myself in a position where I want to continue taking on leadership and responsibility. But I’m also happy that experienced players have joined us who will also take on responsibility and, in doing so, can guide me to some extent, so that I can learn from them. Looking back, there were one or two situations where I could have used the experience of other players—or rather, it would have been good for the team to have more players who’d already gained experience in various high-pressure situations.”

“Oh, I think I’d have a sleepless night or two. In my opinion, all the players have been performing well so far, giving it their all, and are also very self-critical in their desire to get the best out of themselves. While that’s great for a coach, it also means there are bound to be a few tough decisions to make. That’s why I’m looking forward to the remaining weeks of preseason. I’m looking forward to us all continuing to challenge each other and getting the best possible performance out of every single player—but also out of the team—so that we make it as difficult as possible for Markus in the end.”

Finally: How will you spend your free Saturday tomorrow?“I actually haven’t given that any thought yet. Definitely without soccer—that much is certain.”