Marco Friedl has matured into captain at Werder Bremen. At the beginning, the former FC Bayern professional had his problems with the leadership role, as he revealed in a “kicker” interview.
Marco Friedl went through a “learning process” in order to “do justice” to the role of captain at SV Werder Bremen. Especially in the first year and in phases in which “things aren’t going well, people pay more attention to the captain,” said the Austrian: “I was already struggling with my performance, but I’ve really been in the role for a few months now “inside”.
The former Bayern player was appointed Werder’s lead player at the age of 24. At the beginning it “took a while” until he was fully accepted by the team and older players were also able to “get involved with a captain who was a few years younger than him”: “But: I’m not one – and it will stay that way – who enforces a decision on his own initiative.”
Friedl is happy to receive “advice” from Mertesacker
Friedl “always gets everyone on the team council on board because these experienced players can help a young captain like me a lot.” Former captain Ömer Toprak, with whom the midfielder is still in contact, was particularly helpful at the beginning. “And the rest was just the time that helped me, the increasing experience.”
Marco Friedl is still open to input today. As part of the celebrations for the club’s recent 125th anniversary, the man from Bremen exchanged ideas with numerous Werder icons, “especially with Per Mertesacker,” he explained in the “kicker” interview.
Friedl revealed that he received, among other things, “advice and ways to improve” his own game and his role as captain from the Rio world champion. “I’m a guy who takes something like this very seriously and is very happy about these conversations. Some of these players have won everything, experienced everything.”