AHe gave offensive answers to the many questions about his goals and his future. Niclas Füllkrug knows that thanks to his goals and his rise to national team status, he is an internationally sought-after goalscorer. The great concern at Werder Bremen that he would be poached during this winter break at the age of 29 has become significantly smaller thanks to his statements.
“I don’t think there’s any reason to get nervous now,” said Bremen’s hopeful. In the 2-1 home win against VfL Wolfsburg, he first converted a hand penalty (24th minute) and followed that up with the decisive 2-0 (77th). Werder managed an important exclamation point. Now the last question marks behind the personal filling jug should also disappear. At least until summer.
“It’s only possible as a team”
The hard-fought success against the recently very successful Wolfsburg team was an important signal for further cooperation in Bremen. “It’s always only possible as a team,” said Werder head coach Ole Werner. In fact, the subtle difference between Bremen and Wolfsburg on this 18th Bundesliga matchday was that the hosts were more determined collectively.
“Werder made life very difficult for us,” admitted Wolfsburg team captain Maximilian Arnold. Only shortly before the end of the game did his teammate Kevin Parades score the goal to make it 1:2. The last rebellion of VfL in injury time came too late. Mainly because there was no offensive player on the Wolfsburg side who could appear as experienced and accurate as Füllkrug.
“We need him”
The hero of the day, who is contractually bound to Werder Bremen until the summer of 2025, is not only important for countable reasons. With his power, his body language and his rhetoric, Füllkrug signals that he gives support to the entire Bremen team. Thanks to the sense of achievement, Werder’s confidence is back that they will not slip into the relegation zone in the second half of the season – including the hope that shortly before the end of the winter changeover period there will be no more trouble with their goalscorer.
In his television interviews after the end of the game, Füllkrug revealed that he had received several offers from ambitious clubs. “Everything that came up was rejected by me in the first instance. I didn’t let it get to Werder,” said the man with the high hit rate.
13 goals so far this season make him the most successful striker in the Bundesliga – and by far the best German attacker. And what if a very lucrative, almost immoral offer were made? It would probably not be accepted by the club: “Niclas is an important player for us, for the team. We need him and plan with him for the second half of the season,” explains Werder’s football boss Clemens Fritz.
And the player is also steadfast: “Well, I,” said the Bremen crowd favorite with shirt number 11, “I’m totally relaxed.” The so-called change vortex about the filling jug can apparently be ticked off and filed away.
