Inside Gladbach's Summer Stable
Munich - If you've ever wondered how the Bundesliga manages to deliver season after season of effortless entertainment, the answer really is quite simple: it's all in the preparation.
Ring rust
Germany's triumphant ensemble proved that beyond any doubt as the only team to construct a purpose-built training facility for their 2014 FIFA World Cup-winning campaign in Brazil, and for Borussia Mönchengladbach - much like the rest of the country's - spadework really is everything.
"At the end of each season we receive a training regimen to follow during our time off, so that we don't return to training underprepared," explained Gladbach defender . "But it's still pretty normal to have a few aches and pains whenever you do start training again."
In Jantschke's case, those tightened limbs were thrown straight back to the pre-season grindstone as early as 30 June. Two weeks later, against the backdrop of team-mate 's World Cup win at the Maracana, the Foals headed 696 kilometres south to the shores of picturesque Lake Tegernsee to step things up a gear.
Train hard whatever the weather
"We've been to this particular training camp and hotel three times now and it's as good as ever," said Jantschke. "The hotel's fantastic, the lake and surroundings are a delight and the training conditions are superb. The conditions or weather can make a real difference. If it chucks it down like it did a year ago in Turkey, it's an experience you can really do without!"
As it happens, Gladbach have been treated to some scorching sunlight in the Miesbach district of Bavaria, where temperatures have recently been pushing 30 degrees Celsius. The heat isn't necessarily to everyone's liking, but Jantschke believes it's that pushing-of-the-boundaries mentality that makes all the difference collectively.
Team bonding
"Training's tough, but that's been the case for the last three-and-a-half years," admitted the 24-year-old. "It's an opportunity to find out what makes everyone tick because you end up spending all day together. The guys that have come in are all really nice and know how to enjoy themselves. That's really important when you're away."
Gladbach's nascent chemistry proved key in their 3-2 friendly win over Bundesliga 2 outfit TSV 1860 Munich on Wednesday, but far greater hurdles lie in wait once the nine-month slog of the Bundesliga gets under way in five weeks' time. Judging by the spring in Jantschke's step, however, the Foals will be ready to make the leap.
Christopher Mayer-Lodge
