Robert Kraft spoke to Patriots followers in Frankfurt on Saturday. Right here’s what he stated.

Sunday marks the primary time the Patriots will play in Germany, however that hasn’t stopped the franchise from amassing a devoted group of followers within the area.

On Saturday, Patriots proprietor Robert Kraft addressed a number of the staff’s followers at Patriots Haus in Frankfurt in preparation for Sunday’s recreation.

Kraft informed the gang he spoke to the staff after Saturday morning’s observe. He recalled a dialog he had with some followers who approached him earlier within the week. He stated the followers had fond reminiscences of former Los Angeles Ram Jackie Slater, father of present Patriot Matthew Slater, taking part in in a 1990 American Bowl recreation in Berlin.

“They bear in mind performs of him, so I informed [the team] each play tomorrow was so vital,” Kraft stated. “They labored very exhausting, and getting a victory tomorrow was essential, they usually gave me an enormous cheer, so let’s hope that interprets to the sphere.”

Kraft additionally recounted a dialog with Sebastian Vollmer, an offensive sort out from Dusseldorf, after the Patriots drafted him with the 58th general decide in 2009.

“Once we drafted in him . . . ‘09, I informed him we’d be taking part in right here in the future,” Kraft stated. “We labored very exhausting to develop our worldwide enterprise, and Germany is the No. 1 nation. We’re honored that we’ve 16 fan golf equipment right here in Germany.”

Vollmer spent all of his eight-year NFL profession with the Patriots, profitable the Tremendous Bowl after the 2014 season. He was nonetheless with the staff, although injured, for one more Tremendous Bowl win two years later. His success got here as free-to-air broadcasts of NFL video games had been beginning to catch on in Germany.

“It means a lot to us, and we need to preserve coming again to Germany,” Kraft stated. “A number of it’s the help all of you might have given us. So, thanks very a lot.”