German football's constant connection with their fans is a matter of pride. The Bundesliga prices stay affordable, the clubs have regulations in place to prevent short-term financial fixes and the league continues to produce a stream of young, talented players. It's hard not to like really the league's open nature with its fans.

While numbers will always catch the headlines, there are other offerings that make being a supporter of a German football club a very personal experience. One that jumps out to me is open training sessions.

Advertised on club websites like the dates for a cake sale, these sessions are all the rage in the Bundesliga. That's not to say other teams in other leagues don't, but there seems to be more of a non-aggressive expectancy about it in Germany.

At Cologne's training ground, I remember watching an intense game between two teams of five in an enclosed space with full sized goals. Up close, you appreciate the speed at which passes and touches are made, but also the crisp sound that accompanies fine technique. It makes the whole experience feel real. This isn't just a YouTube video - although, in a world made small by social media, it can be:

I also saw Bayern Munich train before the Pep era, and, much like at Cologne, was surprised at the open nature of it all. Of course there are various people in place to make sure that fans don't get too excited at the sight of Bastian Schweinsteiger in a woolly hat, but there's not much separating you from the action - certainly not visually.

From demanding passing drills to dynamic in-game situations, it was all plain to see. A video recently released by German newspaper tz was hailed more because of Pep Guardiola's words than the intricacy of the passing on display. Granted, Guardiola's outburst of "Badstuber, I love you!" was amusing but it wasn't the most remarkable thing about the footage.

Now, I'm not saying that these sessions provide the necessary answers to toppling Bundesliga sides, but it is intriguing that such an offering would be available to the modern fan away from the context of a marketing, sorry training camp in America. The modern German football fan does get this experience because their pockets aren't being fleeced, nor is their loyalty made to feel like a business relationship. Can't help but feel more clubs should take note - it's the perfect win-win situation for everyone involved.