Bargfrede interview: Am quite far, but …

Philipp Bargfrede clearly had fun during his visit with WERDER.DE at Freimarkt.
First Team
Thursday, 31.10.2013 / 12:59

Philipp Bargfrede has been through some tough months. Whenever the 24-year-old was finally fit and had worked his way back to the team, another setback would follow. The goals for the current season were pretty high for Bargfrede...

Philipp Bargfrede has been through some tough months. Whenever the 24-year-old was finally fit and had worked his way back to the team, another setback would follow. The goals for the current season were pretty high for Bargfrede but a meniscus injury on the second training day of the summer preparations took him out of action. Werder's number 44 has slowly worked his way back step by step. WERDER.DE met up with Bargfrede to talk about the difficult last few months - of course at the Freimarkt to take advantage of the good mood of this time of year.

WERDER.DE: Right now in Bremen there is the fifth season of the year, it's Freimarkt. Have you already been there this year?
Philipp Bargfrede: "I actually have not yet been here privately, only last week together with Nils Petersen at the Day of People with Handicaps in the Bavarian tent. But even though it's the last week, I will certainly come back privately. That's what it's all about."

WERDER.DE: I could imagine that it hasn't been like that all the time in the last couple weeks. What kind of thoughts go through your head when you continually have to deal with setbacks?
Philipp Bargfrede: "I will admit that it's been very difficult for me with this injury. I had a long break last year when I was injured and could not play. Of course you set higher goals for the next season. A new coach is there and you want to go full steam again. It was hard that something like this happened right away in the second training. But I have since started looking positively into the future."

WERDER.DE: Let's talk about your rehab. Can you tell us how and where you have worked on your comeback in the last few months?
Philipp Bargfrede: "I was operated by Dr. Boenisch in Augsburg. I spent the first part of the rehab in Traunreut, near Munich. There I had the chance to clear my head. I was travelling around on the weekends, for example, in Salzburg. In addition, my girlfriend, my brother and some colleagues came to visit. I went to the Bayern Champions League game against Moscow with Jens Jeremies (he works in the agency which represents Bargfrede). Altogether, that helped me a lot. It brought me further in my head."

WERDER.DE: And how long have you been back in Bremen?

Philipp Bargfrede: "I have been back here since the home match against Nuremberg. I came back at exactly the right time, basically for the start of my running training. In the first six weeks in Traunreut, I was very limited. My program here is clearly an enhancement for me. And the best thing is I haven't suffered any setbacks. The knee never swelled up and I have been pretty much pain-free."

WERDER.DE: That sounds very positive. What are the next steps?
Philipp Bargfrede: "I am far enough that I can almost do everything. Now I really need to work on my conditioning and coordination to improve my range of motion. Then I hope to kick the ball around without pain and problems as quickly as possible."

WERDER.DE: Speaking of future, your contract expires in the summer of 2014. Have there already been talks about staying on with Werder?
Philipp Bargfrede: "There haven't been any talks. That really doesn't make much sense at the moment. I first want to get fit again and make it back to the pitch. Then we can look after those things. That's why I'm not worried about it at all."

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