rbb|24: Mr. Noebels, you have won five of the previous six World Cup preliminary round games with the DEB selection. A sixth win on Tuesday (11:20 a.m.) would be a new association record. What makes the German team so strong so far?
Marcel Noebels: We’ve gained a lot of confidence since we came together here at the World Cup. We got together quickly and have a good mix of young and experienced players. There are guys who play particularly well when outnumbered, specialists for the offensive and players who are there for their offensive.
What role does national coach Toni Söderholm play in combining these qualities?
Marcel Noebels: The feeling of the national coach is just right. Just like the way he evaluates each and every one of us. He gave each player the right role, which we are now fulfilling down to the smallest detail.
On Tuesday against Switzerland, victory in Group A is still in the cards. How present are you with this prospect in the run-up to the game?
Marcel Noebels: Of course we would like to finish first or second. That would certainly be a small advantage. But we have to focus on making a good game. Whether we win or lose, the important thing is to go into Thursday’s quarter-finals with a good feeling. Especially since Switzerland is one of the favorites of the tournament for me and will play for the medals.
Do you already have the medals in the back of your mind with the German team?
Marcel Noebels: I came here for the World Cup to stay until the last day of the tournament. The claim to want to win every game is of course also there. Still, you have to be careful. You saw at the Olympics how quickly it can backfire if you set the bar and the standards too high.
So it’s a tightrope walk between high and too high goals?
Marcel Noebels: I agree. If we do our best then we have a chance to win no matter who we are against. But we also know that the World Cup could just as easily be over for us on Thursday. You can talk about medals when we wake up on Friday and are in the semifinals.
You are one of five current polar bears in the German team, plus two other Berliners in Leon Gawanke and Lukas Reichel. Does it help to have a Berlin block in the national team?
Marcel Noebels: Of course that’s great. Alone because we guys from Berlin came with a lot of self-confidence. We have proven that we are among the best of the best in the German ice hockey league, and such a championship naturally pushes us. And of course, the work is also easier for the coach if he can put together a Berlin line that just gets along on the ice.
You have already mentioned the championship with the polar bears. Was she also one of the reasons for extending your contract in Berlin this summer?
Marcel Noebels: With the polar bears, I have recently achieved everything that is possible – also personally. Of course, winning the championship and being named Player of the Year in the same year is huge. Of course it won’t be that easy to top that. But I’m really looking forward to the future. There is a lot going on here in Berlin to look forward to.
Speaking of rejoicing: Your season was once again a very long one. Despite all the World Cup euphoria, are you already looking forward to your holiday before the new season?
Marcel Noebels: If I had needed it so much, I wouldn’t be here in Finland now. Of course it was a long season in which we played a lot of ice hockey. But you can only achieve something here at the World Cup if you are there until the final day. And the four games, my body can do them too.
Thank you for the interview.
The interview was conducted by Jakob Lobach.
Broadcast: rbb24 Inforadio, 05/24/2022, 12:15 p.m
Source: rbb