Petersen: "We'd happily swap places with Bremen"

"Everyone is rooting for the club": Nils Petersen is enjoying his time at Freiburg (photo: WERDER.DE).
First Team
Thursday, 05.03.2015 / 17:58

Almost 600 kilometres separates Bremen and Freiburg. Nils Petersen made the switch three months ago to Freiburg on a loan deal until the end of the season. The striker settled down quickly at SC Freiburg and ...

Almost 600 kilometres separates Bremen and Freiburg. Nils Petersen made the switch three months ago to Freiburg on a loan deal until the end of the season. The striker settled down quickly at SC Freiburg and had a dream debut after scoring a hat trick in one half. However, in early February he picked up an injury to his right knee.

Ahead of the game with Werder Bremen on Saturday, Petersen spoke to WERDER.DE about his time at Freiburg including the injury, the visit to his "second home" and the pace of the football business.

WERDER.DE: Nils, you've been wearing an SC Freiburg shirt for three months now. How have you settled in there?

Nils Petersen: "I've been accepted really well here because everyone has the same Hooby (he laughs). We have a great group of players. It's fun to work with the guys and hopefully we'll stay up at the end of the season."

Friends reunited in Freiburg: Ex-Werder keeper Sebastian Mielitz and Nils Petersen (photo: nph).

WERDER.DE: How do you like the city? What differences are there to Bremen?

Nils Petersen: "It was hard to leave Bremen but the people here have made it very easy for us and have made us feel at home. It's nice because there are hardly any differences, just the geographical location. Just like in Bremen, everyone gets behind the team and is passionate about the club. No one wants anything bad to happen to the club after what happened with regards to the new stadium in the referendum. Freiburg is a family lead club and the people working here want the club to stay in the Bundesliga as long as possible. Therefore, it's a lot of fun to work here."

WERDER.DE: What connections do you still have in Bremen?

Nils Petersen: "Bremen is my second home. When I have free time we try to travel to Bremen. I am in regular contact with a lot of players. I speak on the phone a lot with Clemens Fritz and Felix Kroos. I sent a text saying good luck or constructive criticism following a loss. When I drive past the Weser-Stadion I always get excited and I try to spot the Werder players on TV."

WERDER.DE: You have a mate in the Freiburg team from Bremen in Sebastian Mielitz. How important was "Miele" early on?

Nils Petersen: "We were good friends in Bremen and we spoke a lot before he moved to Freiburg. He always said: ‘You should come to Freiburg too' but I couldn't imagine doing that because I felt so comfortable at Bremen. But the move came at short notice. It's nice for me and for our girlfriends that get on well. We've settled down quickly and have made some friends. That's helped a lot. We do a lot together. For example, we'll watch the Werder games together. It's always a talking point in the dressing room if we see each other."

Petersen has made 72 appearances for SV Werder (photo: nph).

WERDER.DE: What are your thoughts on last night's DFB Cup game?

Nils Petersen: "It's obviously bitter at first to go out to a third division side but they reached the last 16. I believe that everyone in Freiburg would happily swap places with Bremen. Werder are on 30 points. Obviously we're happy to get through to the next round but what counts in the Bundesliga. Werder are a good example for all teams in the bottom half of the table that you can work your way up quickly thanks to a good run. Werder can be proud of that."

WERDER.DE: You famously scored three goals in your very first game against Frankfurt. What were your thoughts after the game?

Nils Petersen: "I set the target for myself to gain more match experience and to embrace the challenge in Freiburg. Freiburg were looking for someone to give them something upfront and of course I started well. It was a good for me to mark my territory, if you like. It was important for me, for my head. I showed myself that I still knew where the goal was. I think the firs three games were ok. It's a shame I picked up the injury after that but I have my self confidence back. I want to help the team with goals."

WERDER:DE: At the beginning of February you picked up a slight knee injury. How close are you to returning and is there a chance you will face your old colleagues on Saturday?

Nils Petersen: "It has only been three and a half weeks since the injury so unfortunately it won't be ok for Saturday. Bremen comes too early for me. I would have loved to have been on the pitch, but will have to settle for the stadium and I am looking forward to returning there. We need three points urgently too boost our relegation battle. I think Werder have given themselves enough of a cushion to not be relegation contenders anymore."

Petersen scored a hat-trick in his first game for Freiburg (photo: nph).

WERDER.DE: Going out of the cup against Bielefeld was a dampener of spirits for Werder, but Freiburg are through to the quarterfinals after beating Köln. What effect will that have on the game on Saturday?

Nils Petersen: "including the cup game, four out of our next five games are at home. At least against Köln we regained that feeling of winning. That was important for our confidence. Köln are difficult opponents, but we gave ourselves many chances against them and were solid at the back. Werder are coming at a good time. We hope we can capitalise on this, but at the same time Werder can be dangerous like a boxer on the ropes. Viktor Skripnik will fire up his team. For both teams it will definitely be a pivotal match."

WERDER.DE: Are thinking about the summer at all yet? 

Nils Petersen: "I'm not thinking about that the moment. Football is too fast paced, as I realised with short term loan this winter. There's not point worrying in March about what might happen in June. Freiburg have the option to make it permanent, but first I need to perform well in the last eleven games. Werder is in my heart but I feel content in Freiburg, so it's a positive dilemma. Of course Werder will also have a decision based on my performances, so really it's up to me."

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