“I absolutely wanted to play for Werder”

Marco Friedl in interview: part 2
Even as a young player, Marco Friedl already carries a lot of responsibility (photo: nordphoto).
interview
Tuesday, 10.11.2020 / 14:57

After a successful youth career, Marco Friedl made the step up to professional football at FC Bayern. At the beginning of 2018, he joined SV Werder and established himself as a central defender.

In part two of the WERDER.DE interview, Marco Friedl speaks about his close friendship with fellow Austrian David Alaba, the difference between the current season and last season as well as his admiration for Sergio Ramos.

 

WERDER.DE: Marco, how did you find the step from youth football to the pros??

 

Marco Friedl: "To establish myself with the professionals was definitely the most difficult step in my career. You have to flip the switch in your head from one moment to the next and you know that you won’t get anything for free and that you have to be 100 percent focused at all times, or you won’t make it. Fortunately, I managed to do so relatively quickly, in part because I had already trained regularly with the second team very early on."

WERDER.DE: What was the most important thing for you on your way to professional football?

Marco Friedl: "Aside from my family, it was the fact that David Alaba took me under his wing early on, and through him, I got an insight into professional football. He always stood by me and gave me a lot of tips. I also got to see how he is off the pitch. His professionalism in the early years was simply incredible. He wants to win at all costs and leaves nothing down to chance on the pitch. But of the pitch, he is very quiet, a family man. He showed me how to let go of the restraint from one second to the next and explode on the pitch."

The first photo of Marco Friedl (left) and David Alaba together (photo: Facebook/Marco Friedl).

WERDER.DE: David Alaba is six years older than you. How did this friendship begin?

 

Marco Friedl: "David lived in the Bayern campus at the time, while I was travelling from my home in Austria to Munich. But we joined Bayern in the same year and at some point, I asked him if I could get a photo with him, and we started chatting. I told him that was also playing for Bayern and that I’m also from Austria. Shortly afterwards, David joined Hoffenheim and we lost contact. When he returned to Munich, he got my phone number from my old coach and called me. From then on we’d start doing things together from time to time and a strong friendship developed."

WERDER.DE: At the end of January 2017, a few weeks before your 19th birthday, you were named in the Bundesliga matchday squad for FC Bayern. It was an away game against Werder. How was that for you?

Marco Friedl: "I was overwhelmed, very glad and pleased that I was able to experience being a part of an away game in a full Bundesliga stadium as a young player – even though I wasn’t brought on. The happiness lasted several weeks, and the whole experience made my goal to play regularly in the Bundesliga even stronger."

WERDER.DE: You managed to do that in just a short amount of time here in Bremen. Upon making the transfer, you were asked if it was a step back for you…

Marco Friedl: "And I could answer easily: no. In football, you need changes. I was very young and after the first discussions with Werder I had full confidence in this club. I absolutely wanted to play for Werder. The tradition here is unbelievable and it makes me proud to be a part of this club."

WERDER.DE: How is this season different to last year’s difficult campaign?

Marco Friedl: "We have become more consolidated, more compact, and become more of a team. We defend together and attack together. At the moment, we also have that important bit of luck, with fewer injuries. Especially after the defeat against Hertha on the opening game, we talked about the fact that this season won’t be like last year, that we all have to pull ourselves together. From my point of view, we are a bit more aggressive than last year. That has paid off so far."

I played under extreme pressure
Marco Friedl

WERDER.DE: How did you get through the difficult periods last season, when you were, as you say yourself, described as “down for the count” by the media?

 

Marco Friedl: "To begin with I found it really hard to deal with it. However, I had good discussions with the coaches and focused fully on myself and my work, because I just wanted to give my all and forget the negative headlines as quickly as possible. I wanted to prove that I can play much better than I had been showing."

WERDER.DE: Were you able to draw on what you learnt as a young player at FC Bayern?

Marco Friedl: "Absolutely. I learnt to put full focus on myself and my work when I was there. Last season, I always had the belief that we would get through that difficult situation because I was convinced of the quality of our squad and every single player. In the end, it was an act of will. In a really difficult season, we turned the tide."

WERDER.DE: A tough time, but one that you could learn a lot from?

Marco Friedl: "Extremely tough! But as a young player, I played a lot and was an important part of the team. When you’re such a big part of it and can make a positive contribution in the end, it has a big impact on you. I played under extreme pressure and know now how it feels when you have to deliver."

 

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WERDER.DE: A while ago, you said that in your position, Sergio Ramos impresses you a lot. Why?

 

Marco Friedl: "Everyone would like to have Sergio Ramos in their team. He is a real leader and has a true fighting spirit; he would die for his club. He takes on responsibility and brings everything that you need in a centre back. He’s not only defensively secure but also strong in attack. In every game, you can learn a lot from him."

WERDER.DE: During the coronavirus pandemic, a lot of things are different to normal. How are you finding this period?

Marco Friedl: "The changes are really drastic. Who would have thought a year ago that we’d go so long without fans in the stadiums? But the current times are relevant to everyone, not just football. For example, the gastronomy industry, where people are losing their money, it’s difficult. I hope we can put it all behind us soon. At the moment, the most important thing is to protect yourself and those around you."

WERDER.DE: It’s clear that you’re aware of how privileged you are to be a professional footballer…

Marco Friedl: "A huge amount of young children dream of becoming professional footballers, and only a few manage it. Therefore, I’m very grateful. As a boy, I had a long way to go to reach that goal. I thought about how great life as a professional footballer must be, but I didn't know how much work and sacrifice it would mean. When I look back now at how far it was to get here, I remember it with pleasure. Professional football is a tough business. It fills me with pride to be where I am."

Marco Friedl fulfilled a childhood dream (photo: nordphoto).

WERDER.DE: You recently received your first cap for the Austrian national team. How did it feel to make your debut?

 

Marco Friedl: "It was a childhood ream come true. It was always a goal of mine to make the national team. The call up to the national team shows me that while we didn’t have a good season, the fact that I had a lot of playing time was a benefit for me."

WERDER.DE: Austria's capital, Vienna, was shaken by an attack a few days ago. How did you experience this terror from afar?

Marco Friedl: "I was saddened and shocked. I called a few friends from Vienna during the night. At times there were ten of us on the phone, talking about it and looking at the pictures. I felt how much it affected friends who live just over a kilometre from the place of the attack. It is still a shocking event for all Austrians even days after the attack."

WERDER.DE: You enjoy playing tennis, just like your coach. When are you going to challenge him to a match?

Marco Friedl: (laughs) "“I will do at some point, but I know I need a few more training sessions first. Florian loves playing and is a very good player. I’m lacking match practice. In the summer, I played a lot with my parents, but here in Bremen I basically just split my time between being at home and training. I’m not able to travel to Austria and visit my family at the moment, so my tennis career is currently on hold."

 
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