Preston North End’s German centre half Patrick Bauer is hoping that when football returns, he can enjoy a similar end to the season to the one he experienced 12 months ago.
This time in 2019, Pat was involved in Charlton Athletic’s successful Play-Off campaign, scoring the winning goal in the last seconds of injury-time, to defeat Sunderland at Wembley.
And the No.21 recognises it will be a busy period when football does get back underway: “If we get back to playing games it will be a really busy period, with nine games in a short amount of time, but that is what we have been working towards during lockdown.
“Everyone was keeping themselves fit and they will be in a good shape when we get back to playing games. We are still in sixth, in a Play-Off spot, and if it gets back, I would be really happy if I can do the same as last year with Charlton!”
The defender says that despite only having been in the north west for a little over six months when the pandemic began, he has dealt with the situation well, although he admits missing his team-mates.
“The area is new for me, but for everyone it was the same rule, staying at home and I only left home for my exercising or going to the shop and it has been alright,” he continued.
“I have missed going to the training ground, the games and seeing the boys; but we are in a difficult situation that we have never been in before and we just need to follow the rules and if we are in a boat and pulling in the same direction then we will get there.
“I would have liked things to be normal, but I have been able to spend a lot of time with family during the last eight weeks. We have spent a lot of time in the garden – luckily the weather has been nice.
“I speak with my mum every evening on Facetime and I am showing her, her granddaughter. Before the lockdown we were due to take her to Germany for the first time during the international break at the end of March, but unfortunately, we couldn’t do it, but now we are even more excited to do it when we can.”
And with a date now confirmed of a return to training a week on Monday – 25th May – the 27-year-old says he is looking forward to seeing the rest of the squad.
“I am really looking forward to getting back with the boys. I am not sure what it means yet for us, but I will be really happy, even if we train in smaller groups.
“In times like this, you realise even more how much you love football and we all really want to be back. The safety and the health of the people is the most important overall, but if that allows, we want to get back,” he added.
You can watch the full interview with Pat, as he discusses the return of the Bundesliga and the squad's aims when the season gets restarted, by clicking on the video at the top of the page.