FC St. Pauli

Recovery was the name of the game for the St. Pauli players today. Yesterday, they were put through an energy-sapping strength workout in the afternoon, including sprint drills and stability training. Today, it was followed by the first training-free day since arriving in the Passeier Valley, a wonderful opportunity to sample what the hotel has to offer by either relaxing in the pool or the sauna, doing some stretching in the garden or getting a massage from the physios - or, of course, recharging your batteries with some healthy food. Hotel Bad Fallenbach serves up an extensive buffet for this purpose, with players able to choose from a selection of soups, salads, wholewheat pasta, potatoes, chicken, fish, fried tofu and seitan. Fresh fruit, water and juices are also available at all times.

Goalkeeper Dennis Smarsch puts his faith in a predominantly plant-based diet back home, not just at training camp. We asked him if it was enough to ensure an elite athlete gets the necessary proteins and vitamins. "I eat a largely plant-based diet and I feel fitter than ever," he replied. Smarsch believes a plant-based diet helps him return to full fitness faster, especially during recovery, as well as being easier on the body than animal-based products such as cow's milk and meat.

Keeper Dennis Smarsch follows a predominantly plant-based diet and feels fitter than ever.

Nutrition is a major topic for the players, says performance coach Christoph Hainc Scheller, who has been at the club since 2017. Films like The Game Changers, which champions a wholly plant-based diet, are one reason for this, he says. The film sets out to show that plant-based diets provide huge benefits for athletes. Yet as Hainc Scheller points out, this cannot be said to be true for all athletes. “You have to assess who needs what on an individual basis,” he explains. "To do that, you do blood tests and analyse the data. What's apparent is that the lads watch what they eat." Regardless of whether people classify themselves as vegan, vegetarian or "meat eaters", overall, a clear trend can be seen towards less animal- and more plant-based food, he adds: "There's a lot to be said for plant-based alternatives - from the point of view of digestibility to fat content - especially when it comes to milk."

So how does the Berlin-born Dennis Smarsch feel about the famous currywurst, which was allegedly invented in the capital? "I'm not a big fan in any case," he explains. Smarsch makes no secret of the fact that his fitness is his main concern. To this end, he spent a lot of time reading up on the topic of nutrition, reflecting on and questioning his own behavioural patterns. "It used to be completely normal for me to eat plenty of meat and drink cow's milk, but who decides what's normal?" he asks, before making it clear that he isn't trying to convert anyone: "What you eat is something everyone has to decide for themselves."

Dennis has made his decision and derives his power primarily from plants. And that will remain the case when the squad go out for a meal in a local mountain hut tonight before the resuming training on Thursday (7 July). Rested and fully fit.

FC St. Pauli would like to thank the tourism association of the municipality of St. Leonhard in Passeier for their hospitality.

Photos: Witters