TM interview
Patric Pfeiffer is officially the most valuable central defender in the 2nd Bundesliga until June 30th. From July 1, the 23-year-old will play in the Bundesliga, not with Darmstadt 98 but with FC Augsburg. Pfeiffer had decided against extending his expiring contract with the “Lilien” and in favor of moving to the Fuggerstadt. “With the promotion I started thinking again,” admits Pfeiffer in an interview with Transfermarkt.
But it was clear to him “that I had to go. I’m someone who needs something new. I was in Darmstadt for four years, it was a very nice time. But now I’m looking forward to the new challenge.” The defender was greeted warmly by future team-mate Ermedin Demirovic, among others. The 25-year-old reported with a message in which he was happy about the change and offered his help.
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Pfeiffer decided last summer that he wanted to take the next step: “That’s why I knew that I had to perform even better this season and become an even bigger leader.” His personal goal, more capital from his height of 1.95 meters to beat, he has achieved. Four goals are his best in the professional field and four other central defenders scored in the past second division season, but nobody managed more.
In terms of market value, the native of Hamburg increased, in the November update there was already a jump from 2 million to 3 million euros. For comparison: When he moved from his training club HSV to Darmstadt in 2019, he was appraised at 100,000 euros.
That he would take such a development with the “Lilien” was “not to be expected at first. The first few years were not what I had imagined,” says Pfeiffer. In the 2019/20 season he commuted between the bench and the stands, and in the following season between the bench and the starting XI. After that he was an integral part of the team. “I have matured on a personal level and have become more independent and adult. At some point it clicked that I was no longer a youth player but a professional. I realized that I had to assert myself and that it didn’t matter how many people were playing in my position. The last two years have shown that hard work is rewarded,” he emphasizes.
Patric Pfeiffer: Cohesion like Darmstadt 98 “never experienced”
Darmstadt was not necessarily the favorite for promotion. “Before the season, everyone thought we would play more in midfield. That appealed to us, we wanted to show that we’re better,” says Pfeiffer. After being relegated to the Bundesliga in 2017, the Hessians finished tenth twice, then fifth, seventh and fourth, before going back to the upper house thanks to being runner-up. Pfeiffer sees the team spirit and coach Torsten Lieberknecht as reasons for the success: “I’ve never experienced the way we were as a team. Everyone got along well and everyone was there for each other.”
Together with Düsseldorf’s Dawid Kownacki (goes to Werder Bremen), Pfeiffer was the most valuable second division professional with an expiring contract. There had been interest from first division clubs for some time, because in the last two transfer periods the defensive specialist was traded with various clubs from the upper house. As Transfermarkt reported in May, there was an agreement with another Bundesliga club alongside FCA. 1. FSV Mainz 05 was said to be interested. Pfeiffer “actually didn’t notice anything” in the middle of the season how far advanced the respective negotiations were. He informed his advisor that he wanted to concentrate on the task with Darmstadt and clarify everything else after the end of the season.
Patric Pfeiffer in action for Darmstadt 98
Pfeiffer reports on “good conversations” between him and FCA manager Stefan Reuter and coach Enrico Maassen. The fact that the Fuggerstadt company was ultimately awarded the contract is mainly due to Maassen. The 39-year-old was said to have put internal pressure on when courting the defender. “The most important thing for me was that a coach can work with young players,” says Pfeiffer. Maassen not only proved this at FCA, but also at previous stations (including Borussia Dortmund II).
In addition, Augsburg is the right place to further advance its development. FCA has been playing in the Bundesliga for a while and offers a calm environment. Since 2011, the Fuggerstädter have been in the top flight without interruption, only seven clubs have beaten that. After mostly finishing just before the relegation zone, things should now go to higher levels.
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Pfeiffer says about his role in the team: “Augsburg plays back three and back four, I’m very good at both. When they are high they need players who are fast and good in the air. The style of play suits me very well, it suits my type of player perfectly.” The fact that Pfeiffer is now one of six central defenders in the FCA squad for the new season doesn’t bother him: “Many players were once planned for my position in Darmstadt, it even midfielders were placed in defence. If the performance is right, I’m sure I’ll get minutes. Quality and belief in yourself will always prevail.”
However, Pfeiffer will have to be patient for his Bundesliga premiere. Because he saw a red card for assault on the last second division matchday against Greuther Fürth (0:4), he was banned for three games. “It upset me a lot because it wasn’t on purpose. It looks like it in the video, but it was a reflex because I wanted to get back up,” he says.
He can’t really realize that he’ll play in the Bundesliga in the future, says Pfeiffer with a smile and adds: “It was a long way to get there, you fell down a lot, but got up again and again. Being where you always wanted to be, the feeling is indescribable. Realizing that will only start when I’m on the pitch. Especially in Munich or Dortmund.” Above all, he is looking forward to “measuring myself against the best. Then you can see where you stand. I want to show the Bundesliga that I’m there.”
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