Bremen – 1350 minutes – more is not possible: Marco Friedl has played the full distance for Werder Bremen in all Bundesliga games this season. The 22-year-old central defender has developed into a solid pillar in the system of coach Florian Kohfeldt. In an interview with the DeichStube, Friedl explains what the new standing in the team does to him and what it feels like to have ousted the captain.
The conversation is also about the ongoing criticism of the defensive style of the SV Werder Bremen, LED lights in the cabin – and correcting that Marco Friedl is dear to the heart.
Mr. Friedl, can we assume that after the 1-1 draw in Leverkusen you had a much more pleasant start to the working week than was the case last time?
Yes absolutely. After the 2-0 draw against Union Berlin, the coach didn’t have to give a speech, because we players knew that the performance was just bad. If things went well at the weekend, that makes things a lot easier. But that doesn’t mean that the mood has become more relaxed. The trainer told us straight away that there was no reason to be more relaxed about anything.
Before the Leverkusen game, Florian Kohfeldt asked for a reaction from the team. You and your colleagues then showed them. What else can this 1: 1 be worth apart from the one point for Werder?
We have shown again that we can hold our own against strong teams if we all push ourselves to the limit. Similar to how we showed it against Bayern and partly against Dortmund, even if we unfortunately lost the game in the end. Retrieving everything for 90 minutes – we always have to succeed so that games like the one against Union no longer happen.
Werder Bremen: Marco Friedl can understand “that our game is not so nice to watch for fans”
Can you understand that after a 1-1 draw with a top team like Bayer Leverkusen, there are people who criticize your team’s defensive style of play?
In Leverkusen, of course, we focused very much on defending and defending ourselves. Because we knew it would be difficult for us if we let their offensive players get going. We definitely wanted to prevent that. I can understand that there are fans who say our game is not that nice to watch. But it’s primarily about collecting points. We also had a few offensive actions that we have to play out more decisively. Now we’re working on making things work better in the next few games.
In the past, it was often the case that good results were followed by new slumps and the momentum was quickly gone. What makes it so difficult to prevent that?
That’s a good question, and it’s not an easy one to answer. We have to adapt to new challenges with each opponent. So far this season we’ve had a hard time when our opponents let us play. In general, we always have a good plan, but we cannot always implement it. In my opinion, that’s because of us players, and I think the team’s alignment before the games is excellent. We just have to learn to make better use of the spaces our opponents offer us. It’s a process because you can’t change overnight.
Before the upcoming Augsburg game there is another difficulty: It will take place in the Weserstadion. Can you explain why the team has been struggling so hard at home for so long?
When I came to Bremen, we had a phase in which we didn’t lose a home game for several months. We have now scored significantly more points away from home since last season. We don’t know ourselves why that is so. But it is clear that we have to get more points at home because we know very well how much power there is in this stadium. It is important to use that again.
Werder Bremen defender Marco Friedl: “I now also take care of the young players”
Florian Kohfeldt has stated that the club is trying hard to get over the weakness at home. Even the light in the cabin has been changed. How do we have to imagine that?
We have had new LED lights in the cabin since this season, with which different light levels can be set. You can try different things there. I haven’t really looked into it that much so far. But I think it’s good that these issues are also questioned in the club.
In addition to goalkeeper Jiri Pavlenka, Theodor Gebre Selassie and Maximilian Eggestein, you are one of the team’s four long-running favorites who have not missed a single Bundesliga minute this season. How has your standing in the team changed?
It is of course the case that your standing increases when you are on the pitch. I am happy that I can play week after week. It helps me develop personally so that I can in turn help the team more.
How is the improved standing noticeable in the hierarchy of the team. Does your word have more weight now?
Yes, you can say that. In my position, I have to speak a lot on the pitch anyway. The role that I now take care of the younger players who haven’t been around that long is relatively new. For example, I talk to Romano Schmid a lot. I was in the same situation then as he is now. So I try to give him tips.
The external impression is that you have become bolder in your public statements.
Marco Friedl over 20-point goal by Christmas with Werder Bremen: “That was a bit stupid”
For example in November you said in an interview that 20 points would be nice by Christmas and. . .
Yes, I have to hook that right away, because unfortunately that came across as wrong at the time. Of course I know what I said, but I meant 20 points by the end of the first half of the season. That was a bit stupid, so it’s good that I can clarify that again now.
Shortly after the “20-point statement”, your trainer said that he would be careful not to set such goals …
(laughs) I explained my statement to him at the time. He had already read it in the newspaper and said to me: “That is a brave sentence. If you say that, I won’t interfere. “
Now that you’ve corrected yourself: Werder still has 20 points until the end of the first half of the season. 15 are currently, two games are still pending. . .
Since my statement was recently conveyed somewhat misleadingly, this time I will leave out specific figures. We have to focus on our performance in every game and absolutely go to the limit. If that succeeds, we will get enough points. I am convinced of that. The important thing now is the game against Augsburg at the weekend. We have to get the passion and aggressiveness onto the pitch like in the Leverkusen game. That is the basis of our game.
If the game starts at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, you will very likely be back in the starting XI, which means that captain Niklas Moisander will only be the bench. When did you hear about the changing of the guard this season?
It just so happened that the coach decided that I would play before the first game. And so it went on. There was no fundamental conversation in which this was clarified. It has nothing to do with me and Niklas. With Ömer Toprak, Milos Veljkovic and Christian Groß, we have three other central defenders who are fighting with us for two and three positions in central defense, respectively. I try to give everything to stay in the team.
Marco Friedl does not want to experience a season like last year with Werder Bremen.
Were you surprised by the development? After all, Niklas Moisander is the team’s captain.
I trained as a central defender in preparation and played in the position in the friendly matches. So it was clear to me that this would be my role this year. Since I’m left-footed, I had in mind that it would be the left center-back position.
How does Niklas Moisander deal with it? Does he still greet you?
Yes of course. Our relationship is still completely normal. We appreciate each other very much. Niklas is also a very important part of the team, as he has already shown on the pitch this season. And his influence as a captain extends far beyond the playing field.
Could he also help you deal with unfortunate games like the one against Union Berlin, when you were directly involved in both goals?
Games like this just happen, and there will be more to come. In the meantime, however, I’ve come to a point where I can assess very well what went wrong. I then solve that for myself and work it up.
Finally, let’s take a look at the tasks ahead. With Augsburg, Hertha BSC, Schalke and Bielefeld, there will be games against direct competitors in the coming weeks – and with it the chance to lay the foundation for the fact that there will be no Zitter season finale this year.
The direct duels are very important, but not even the first half of the season has been played yet. We just try to do our homework because we definitely don’t want to experience a season like last year again. (dco)
