Per Mertesacker admits it is hard to get motivated after helping Germany lift the 2014 World Cup.
The Arsenal defender was a key part of Die Mannschaft's triumph in Brazil over the summer but says returning to club football has been more challenging than he first expected.
"Personally it is difficult at the moment because that was really a long season last year and to come back from that World Cup and get the motivation back," Mertesacker said.
"I am nearly back, but you can feel there is something missing at the moment. With those games, the belief and the mentality is there, but the motivation will come back.
"We didn't even have time to celebrate [the World Cup win] properly, that was the first thing, but you realise month after month what happened. I am still not there [taking in] what happened in Brazil, maybe in five or 10 years you can really realise what was going on there.
"We came back to Berlin, got on the stage, waved our hands, showed the World Cup and then everyone disappeared to their families to get some holidays, some rest and calm."
