With the training camps over the players headed back to Vienna and their families. The club affords the players a little break to enjoy their home life after the hard graft of the previous weeks. "It was really tough but I'm sure the camps have done us the world of good", stated left back Markus Katzer. Alongside the hard work and physical examinations was also another important factor: the fun! The camps and the trip to Turkey afforded the players time together, to build team spirit and enjoy each others company away from the stresses of competitive football. The team spirit will be key to proceedings in the coming weeks. "We´ll now use the remaining time for fine tuning" explained Peter Pacult. The management team were delighted by the players efforts over the winter break, the team displayed the required motivation and dedication to meet the targets and goals set by Pacult and his staff. With the championship restart just around the corner, Rapid will need to hit the ground running with Wiener Neustadt and Salzburg lying in wait.  The injured duo Markus Heikkinen and Boris Prokopic should be good to go by the 12th of february, while with Steffen Hofmann we´ll have to see how things develop. Despite fleeting appearances in the previous friendlies, the Captain is still a way from full fitness. The three new boys are now fully integrated into the set up however. For Boris Prokopic it was merely a case of returning home from his lone spell at Wacker Innsbruck. Prokopic has already donned the Green White in the championship as well as for the reserves. Michael Schimpelsberger has arrived from reigning dutch champions FC Twente Enschede. The 19 year old Austrian recently celebrated debuts in both the dutch league and Champions League but looked for a new challenge whereby he can stake a claim to a regular spot on team sheet. Goalkeeping talent Georg Blatnik (on loan from Grödig) has until the summer to prove he can be a star of the future. A decision on his stay with the club will be taken in the summer.Going in the opposite direction through the Hütteldorf exit doors is central defender Hannes Eder. The combative defender has joined danish outfit SonderjyeskE on loan until the summer. Also out on loan is reserve side player Thomas Bergmann. Bergmann will link up with Rapid team mate Muhammed Ildiz at Wacker Innsbruck for the second half of the season. (gw)
01.02.2011