Werder Bremen: Nick Woltemade wants to avoid “déjà vu” on return

Among the best scorers in the 3rd division

The past four months could hardly have gone better for Nick Woltemalde. The 21-year-old has scored six goals and five assists in the last eight games in the 3rd division and has made great strides with SV Elversberg towards the 2nd division. Regardless of the outcome of the season, the attacking player will return to regular club Werder Bremen next year. In an interview with Transfermarkt, he takes a look at his current development and is aggressive about the future.

But first a leap back to spring 2022, more precisely to May 15th: Werder Bremen celebrates its direct return to the Bundesliga with a 2-0 win against Jahn Regensburg a year after being relegated. In the midst of the festivities on the Osterdeich is Woltemade, for whom this day as a native of Bremen is just as positively remembered as for the entire city. On the pitch, the 1.98 meter tall right-footed player only made a small contribution to the team’s success. After a foot operation in September, only seven brief assignments totaling 42 minutes were recorded at the end of the season.

In the summer break that followed, the question arose for both the player and those responsible as to how things should continue. The congenial duo of Niclas Füllkrug and Marvin Ducksch was kept and another competitor, Oliver Burke, was signed as back-up. It quickly became clear that it would be difficult again at Werder. “Anyone who knows me knows how close Bremen is to me. But I still knew that I wanted and had to take the next step. The most important thing for this is the playing time, which is more likely elsewhere, ”said Woltemade in an interview with Transfermarkt.

However, a solution was initially a long time coming. The attacker was still part of the Werder squad until August 30, the day before the end of the transfer window, although coach Ole Werner publicly recommended a loan. There was speculation in the media that the youngster himself spoke out against leaving – false claims, as he now explains: “I honestly don’t know why it was so hyped. I never said anything about it, it was just important to me to find the right step and the right club. That’s why it took a little longer.”

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And why did you ultimately choose Elversberg? Many promoted players in the 3rd division initially focus on defense and staying up – not the best conditions for developing an offensive talent. “That’s what I thought at the beginning too,” admits Woltemade with a laugh. At second glance, however, it became clear: Elversberg is no ordinary climber. “I saw from the first league games that they want to play attacking football, that they are brave and can take on any team in the league. This impression was confirmed in the extremely positive discussions with the trainer and sports director. From then on it was clear to me that it suits me in terms of sport and personality,” says Woltemade.

Woltemade on the upswing at SV Elversberg: “Always convinced of my quality”

But not everything was perfect in Saarland either. In the first eight games, Woltemade was only twice in the starting XI. “I came into a team that had won five of their first six games and knocked Leverkusen out of the cup. It was also a change for me, I was away from home for the first time and was on my own for the first time for a long time.” But there were no doubts during this time. “Of course I would have wished it had gone a bit faster overall. But I knew it was a process that might take a little time. I was always convinced of my quality and knew that it was the right way,” says Woltemade.

He has been on the offensive line of coach Horst Steffen since November and is an integral part of the starting XI. With a total of six goals and seven assists, he is one of the best scorers in the league, although he only makes 17 appearances due to the late change. With 56 points from 23 games, SVE is currently 17 points ahead of 1. FC Saarbrücken in fourth place (to the table) – the reserves of SC Freiburg, currently second, should not be promoted – and the claims of the promoted team have naturally grown. Similar to Union Berlin in the Bundesliga, big tones are left to other clubs.

“As an athlete you always want to win and always be first. And when you’re ahead by such a distance, then of course you want to stay first,” says Woltemade, but immediately adds: “But we’ve said it again and again: We’re promoted and have to put it back on the pitch every week and step on the gas. Only then do we really have a chance. If we manage to do this as we have done so far, we are on the right track.”

Return to Werder in summer: Woltemade wants to avoid “déjà vu”

Whether in the 2nd or 3rd league, next year Elversberg will most likely have to do without Woltemade. In Bremen, those responsible plan with their own growth, as Clemens Fritz recently confirmed. The player on loan is in regular contact with the 42-year-old and discusses the future. “Contractually I’m going back to Bremen in the summer. But it’s also clear that I want to avoid déjà vu. It’s important that things continue like this for me, that I get more playing time and that I can continue the joy of playing men’s football that I got in Elversberg,” said Woltemade.

How many appearances there will be at Werder in the future depends to a large extent on himself. “I knew beforehand what I could do, but to have shown it in men’s football in games and not just in training gives you even more confidence. Ultimately, everything depends on many components that I can’t always influence myself.” The contract on the Weser ends in June 2024, so another loan would only be possible if it was extended – talks have not yet been held about this. In any case, the current focus is on the fight for promotion with Elversberg. “It is my clear goal to be a regular player in the Bundesliga at some point. When, how and where – you can’t say that yet.”

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