Freiburg’s Nils Petersen in the penalty shootout.
Source: Robert Michael/dpa/archive image
SStriker veteran Nils Petersen from Bundesliga soccer team SC Freiburg attributes his performance improvement in the second half of last season to a conversation with coach Steffen Baumgart from 1. FC Köln return. Petersen had talked to Baumgart in February, but rejected concrete intentions to change at the time.
In an interview with the “Kicker” (Thursday edition), Petersen now said: “To be honest, I enjoyed feeling that I was still worth something on the market. Such a form of external appreciation is good for everyone.” If an employee is asked about his qualities by another company, that’s nice.
After that he realized what role the head plays. “I just came up with a different feeling because you realize: you are someone, you can still do it. I was instilled with confidence, I couldn’t do it myself,” said Petersen. He is very grateful to Baumgart for this push.
After even considering retiring, the 33-year-old extended his contract, which would have expired in the summer. “I am incredibly happy in Freiburg and in the fall of my career I noticed how much you can get out of the mental area, “he told the “kicker” now.
Cologne coach Baumgart confirmed the conversation about a possible change. “I asked him if he could imagine that,” said the 50-year-old of the ARD “Sportschau”. “But he also said right away that he likes to play in Freiburg. If he then finds a boost in motivation for himself, that’s more than positive.”
