José Rivera
Have you settled down in Friedrichshafen and how do you feel with the club and your teammates?
Yes I feel very settled here and the transition has been quite easy. The club is extremely professional and the local officials take care of any of our immediate needs. As an athlete here all we need to worry about is working hard and doing our job. I feel very comfortable with the team and my teammates; everybody is really nice so it makes it easy to adjust to a different environment.
Has something changed in your daily life? You have been a professional Volleyball player for a long time – is it the same routine every year for you?
Not much has changed for me. I have been doing this a long time so every year is similar. As teammates we are still learning each other and this takes time.
Last year VfB lost only four sets in the Bundesliga and won the national cup. Now you lost in Berlin and had problems also against CV MITTELDEUTSCHLAND. To your understanding is the team not fully ready and prepared yet?
I think we still have a long way to get where we want to be but I am confident we are going in the right direction. I think our team and the league have improved from last year and with so many new players on our roster there will be a learning curve. The most important thing for us is to know our goals and work for their achievement. There will be some bumps along the road but the journey is just beginning.
In the 2013 CEV Volleyball Champions League, VfB has edged Hypo Tirol INNSBRUCK 3:2 and lost to Zenit KAZAN in straight sets. Is a win next week against Knack ROESELARE important to make it to the next round?
I think the rest of all of our games are important for qualifying for the next round. I believe the key to winning our next game against ROESELARE is showing that same fighting spirit we had in Innsbruck. We have to believe in ourselves and believe in each other.
What do you want to experience with the team this season?
Mostly I want to experience a sense of accomplishment for the goals we have. It is no secret we want to win the German Cup and the Bundesliga. Anything less than this I would not consider a successful season.
What are your personal goals at this point of your career?
At this point in my career my goal is to help this team become a great side and win titles. This is why I came to Friedrichshafen, nothing more.
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