Managing Director in the TM interview
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Summer transfers done, the first exclamation mark against Gladbach – and now rest? Nevertheless. For managing directors Clemens Fritz and Werder Bremen, among other things, the questions are concerned with whether the majority of accesses are more than “only” a one -year solution and how to remain permanently competitive as a club. At TM, the ex-professional explains the possible danger among rental players and the advantages of the new trainer Horst Steffen and talks about the loss of own plants as in the Nick Woltemade case. In addition, before the Bundesliga game against SC Freiburg (Saturday, 3:30 p.m.), the manager explains what it takes to not make the “giant gap” bigger in international competition.
In the first part on Thursday, sports director Fritz spoke about the background and the creation of Victor Boniface’s surprising transfer.
Transfer market: Except for Victor Boniface, there are purchase options for all loan players. Would it also be possible thanks to the regional investor alliance to firmly sign all professionals?
Fritz: We have to evaluate this economically next summer. It is the case that we are able to act. Nevertheless, transfer income must be opposite. You can’t always only invest. We have also extended contracts with players who will then become more expensive. We have to take that into account. However, it is important for the topic of identification with the association if you have the opportunity to draw purchase options. I would not assume anything, but if things go bad, a player could think: ‘I’m gone in three months anyway.’ There is a different feeling with a purchase option.
In the second part on Friday, Fritz spoke about Werder’s wild transfer summer and transfer traffic jam, the shadow team of the Bremen, 10 million shopping Samuel Mbangula, frustration and the amount of transfer for Michael Zetterer and Marvin Dicksch.
Transfer market: What distinguishes the new trainer Horst Steffen compared to predecessor Ole Werner?
Fritz: Ole has stabilized us enormously in recent years and is a very good trainer. He and his team did a top job. At some point you are at a point where you decide not to work together. I wish Ole all the best in Leipzig. In the end we decided on a new path and are glad that we were able to convince Horst of it.
Transfer market: What spoke for the coach signed from Elversberg?
Fritz: It attaches great importance to dealing with each other and the mood within the team. If something doesn’t suit him, he appeals to it clearly, is demanding. Horst wants to play brave, offensive football, develop young players – that’s exactly the way we want to go.
Transfer market: The chemistry seemed to be right right away.
Fritz: We had really very good conversations with him, where we realized relatively quickly: we would like to go into the future with this trainer. He came across totally authentically. I think we both emerged from it with his very good feeling. And it was not an easy transfer phase for Horst either. We were in exchange every day, because of course you as a trainer want to put the team together as soon as possible. He also placed these requirements on us. I would have liked to have had that myself. It is not the case that we speak different languages. For the known reasons, we took a bit longer, patience was asked. It was really a great collaboration, we were voted there. And when I see how he works with his team and the team and also leaves every player the room to develop – I like that very much.
Werder Bremen: Loss of own plants like Woltemade not avoidable?
Transfer market: To what extent have the player profiles sought to change with the change of coach?
Fritz: There was a systematic change. We played in 3-5-2 beforehand, now we have a 4-2-3-1. We had Wingbacks more than a full -back in the squad. There are differences in positioning and defensive stability. We revised our position profiles after changing the coach because there were changes in the orientation due to the systematic adjustments that we developed together with Horst relatively quickly.
Transfer market: With Nick Woltemade and Eren Dinkçi, the SVW has lost two and talented Bremen in the recent past. How does Werder want to be attractive for youth players, especially for the U19 cup winners?
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Fritz: It is always nice to accompany players over a certain time to build them up for the next step. We will go on this path. But it will always be the case that younger players leave us. In the best case, you sell it because the package is so attractive for you as a club. The topic of Nick Woltemade was discussed and down, and in an interview he himself classified well that we tried very hard and stretched economically to keep it. We have had a very long conversations. But at the time, Nick opted for a different way, also because of a family connection to Stuttgart. We would also have preferred it, he would have extended the contract.
Transfer market: What are the challenges of an association like Werder in the future?
Fritz: The biggest challenge is that the economic gap to other clubs is getting bigger. While Bayern and Dortmund are struggling to connect to the top European clubs at an international level, we are fighting to restore the connection to the top clubs in the Bundesliga. You can see how difficult this will be with a view to European football when you look at the market in the Premier League this year: ten clubs have made over 100 million euros in transfer. And what was released to the participants at the club World Cup … We simply can no longer go with the sums in the market. So much money is invested in England that there are imagination that five or six clubs can become champions. This is not the case with us. Sometimes the relegation battle is more exciting than the fight for the German championship. We have to try not to grow these giant gap or even close a bit to keep the Bundesliga product attractive and exciting the competition. And that is also the challenge for Werder Bremen.
We installed some young players to develop them and create values for Werder. These steps take time.
Transfers: Specifically, that means?
Fritz: It is important to me that we stay with us. We really have to do a good job here and find creative solutions. And of course you also need the bit of luck to move up. You have to be there at the right moment and take the chance. Sometimes you have to take a step back to make two forward again. We installed some young players to develop them and create values for Werder. These steps take time. We are convinced that it is the right way. At Mio Backhaus, Karim Coulibaly and Patrice Covic, we saw in the first games that they can stand their husbands in the Bundesliga.
Transfer market: The team is clear, the conditions are clear. What is your season goal?
Fritz: The unrest during the transfer phase with the question of whether something else is happening is now over. The bottom line should be 40 points as soon as possible. We want to play first division football, very clearly-and then just see where we can develop. Much cannot be planned, as we noticed in preparation with the injuries. I hope that we have left this misery behind us.
Interview: Philipp Marquardt
To part 1: Sports director Fritz on the background and the resulting transfers of Victor Boniface
Part 2: Fritz about Werder’s wild transfer summer and transfer traffic jam, the shadow team of the Bremer, 10 million shopping Samuel Mbangula, frustration and the transfer fees for Michael Zetterer and Marvin Ducksch