Between 2012 and the end of 2014 Clemens Fritz played together with Nils Petersen during his time at SV Werder Bremen. Apparently he would not have thought that the head of professional football would still be enthusiastic about the Freiburg attacker around ten years later.
Nils Petersen owes a meal because of a lost bet: Bremen’s head of professional football Clemens Fritz.
IMAGO/Nordphoto
The term, which Clemens Fritz quickly adapted, is a bit unwieldy, but it is true: Nils Petersen is the “record substitute goalscorer” in the Bundesliga – “or whatever you want to call it,” says the head of professional football at SV Werder Bremen. 33 joker goals clearly mean the best value (ahead of Claudio Pizarro, 21) for the SC Freiburg attacker. But for Fritz Petersen, with whom he spent two and a half seasons at Werder, is much more: “A really great guy. We spent a lot of time here in Bremen privately,” says the 42-year-old, because: “He also has one very good sense of humor.”
According to Fritz, the striker, who scored 18 goals in a total of 72 competitive games for Werder, “always put himself at the service of the team”, always conveyed a positive attitude to work: “He came to training every morning and was always in a good mood and a smile on his face – he just wanted to play football.” But in terms of sport, the 22-time ex-national player did not always seem completely convinced of his former teammate – at least not until he was a footballer.
Fritz on Petersen: “He can enjoy Bremen, but…”
At least that’s what a bet by Fritz suggests; Perhaps it was also because “there was a few verbal skirmishes back then,” says the Bremen professional boss. He offered Petersen: “If you’re still playing in the Bundesliga when you’re 32 or 33 – I’m not so sure anymore – then I’ll invite you to dinner.” And Fritz admits: “To be honest, I had my doubts a bit.” The Freiburger is now 34 – as recently announced, he will end his career at the end of the season.
Long before Petersen’s last return to the Weser Stadium on Sunday (3.30 p.m., LIVE! at kicker), Fritz had admitted the lost bet to him “last year”. However, the mission has not yet been redeemed: “I’ll take care of it.” Nevertheless, Fritz now limits when they meet again on the 28th Bundesliga matchday: “He’s welcome to enjoy the atmosphere here and also in Bremen, but he should please leave the points here.”
Fritz warns: “You often don’t see him”
The ex-professional is still warning of the soon-to-be ex-professional: “He’s a player who always emits a certain danger when he’s on the pitch. You often don’t see him, but he always has At least one scene in the game.” And even if at some point he didn’t really think it was possible, Fritz is now enthusiastic about Petersen: “I think it’s really impressive what kind of career he has taken.”
