“Everyone knew that if you didn’t perform, you’d be out of the team”

Per Mertesacker is one of the familiar faces guiding millions of TV viewers in Germany through the FIFA World Cup. Once a key figure on the pitch, the former defender is now an expert for German broadcaster ZDF. As a result, the 41-year-old has been keeping a close eye on the tournament in Canada, Mexico and the USA. In an interview with WERDER.DE, he discusses the mood in the studio following Germany’s World Cup exit, Werder’s new signing Cedric Itten, and what will stay with him from this tournament.

WERDER.DE: Moin Per, Der Spiegel described you and Christoph Kramer as the “old married couple” among the pundits. Do you think the magazine has a point?

Per Mertesacker: I hadn’t heard that one before (laughs). But there are many positive aspects to that. An old married couple has experienced a lot together and can still wind each other up even in later years. I don’t really see it that way, though, because we both still feel very young.

WERDER.DE: As ZDF pundits, you’re known for trading quips and joking with each other on air. Is that the secret behind your popularity on television?

Per Mertesacker: Yes, I think so. The important thing is that people know we genuinely get on well. This is now the fourth tournament we’ve covered together and during that time we’ve spent a lot of time together. We regularly train together and eat healthily – that professional mindset has stayed with both of us. We’re happy to share this time together and try to make the most of it. There has never been a situation where someone has stormed out of a programme feeling offended.

WERDER.DE: Alongside Werder women’s head coach Fritzy Kromp and Christian Streich, you are part of a four-person punditry team at ZDF. Who was the most emotional behind the scenes after Germany’s elimination against Paraguay?

Per Mertesacker: Because it went to a penalty shootout, there wasn’t really much time for that. The curtain came down and we went straight on air. During the match it was very quiet, and afterwards it was almost a state of shock. When Germany go out in the round of 32, the consequences immediately run through your mind. Do the head coach or some players need to step back? These are the issues you have to address and analyse as a pundit. I try to assess these things calmly and objectively. Of course, the ideal scenario for us is for Germany to go as far as possible and we tell a predominantly positive story.

WERDER.DE: The tournament is now entering its final stages regardless of Germany’s involvement. What do you think people will remember most about this World Cup?

Per Mertesacker: There have already been a few scandals (laughs). The overturned red card [editor’s note: a suspension for USA forward Folarin Balogun was lifted] will probably stick in people’s minds. Perhaps that will fade a little now that the USA have been knocked out. But there have been a few decisions from FIFA that were questionable. From a sporting perspective, it is notable that six European teams are still in the quarter-finals. France and Spain have reached their peak at exactly the right time. It will also be remembered that Messi, Haaland, Kane and Mbappé all came and delivered. So far, it has been a World Cup defined by the superstars.

“If a player delivers under pressure, any team could do with him – and Cedric has done that.”

Per Mertesacker

WERDER.DE: He may not be one of those superstars yet, but Werder signing Cedric Itten is in the quarter-finals with Switzerland against Argentina. Should Werder fans be getting up in the middle of the night to watch?

Per Mertesacker: Switzerland have worked out a solid spine in their team, so he will probably come off the bench again. It’s great to see a Werder player making an impact at a tournament like this. The experience of taking responsibility in a situation like the penalty shootout against Colombia is incredibly valuable. If a player delivers under pressure, any team could do with him – and Cedric has done that. Aside from that, I have been impressed by how keen Switzerland are to control matches on their own terms.

WERDER.DE: Speaking of international call-ups from the Weser – you joined Bremen 20 years ago this August. In your career, you helped shape a generation of Germany players alongside many teammates. What made that group special?

Per Mertesacker: After moving from Hannover to Bremen, Torsten Frings, Tim Borowski and Miroslav Klose were the players I could immediately look up to and rely on. Germany had always had a strong Bayern contingent, but at that time, a Werder group also became part of the national team. Even so, training sessions were intense, with plenty of competition and fire. Everyone knew that if you didn’t perform, you’d be out of the team. Over the years, that created a unity which, even through painful defeats, built up a wealth of experience that laid the foundations for winning the World Cup in 2014. It developed over many years and did not happen overnight.

WERDER.DE: What ingredients are needed to create another successful generation today?

Per Mertesacker: We had a core group of five or six players who stepped up at the right time. That is something that is often underestimated with other nations too. It is not only about being well-drilled as a team, but also about building a strong team spirit. When it comes to Germany, it’s important that we live by our principles, and we always did that through our sense of togetherness. We need top performances at club level and players who are resilient and who understand what is at stake. Every period of transition contains an opportunity, and we can get back to where we need to be. Behind the scenes, work is already being done to bring in the right people to lead the way.

WERDER.DE: You stepped down from your role as academy manager at Arsenal at the end of the season and recently indicated that you could imagine taking on a role with the DFB. What is important to you when it comes to your next challenge?

Per Mertesacker: At the moment, I have a great role with ZDF and afterwards I will discuss the next steps with my family. After seven years as a player and eight years as academy manager at Arsenal, I want to take the opportunity to reflect properly. At the DFB, Bernd Neuendorf, Rudi Völler and Andreas Rettig are good people in place who have already shown they are prepared to make difficult decisions. The signs are pointing towards big changes. As for me, I am keeping a fairly low profile, focusing on my work as a pundit and taking my time to consider what comes next. There also has to be interest and willingness from the other side.

WERDER.DE: Let’s stay with your expertise from eight years of youth football in England. Why has England recently been more successful at developing difference-makers?

Per Mertesacker: Our main focus was on individual development rather than any kind of concrete results. That also meant developing players who needed to be strong characters. At the same time, we gave ourselves the freedom to respond to periods of development and improvement. We always focused on the player and their qualities, built on a foundation of values. When a player reaches senior football, they might have to wait three months for their first appearance. If they have always taken the easiest route up to that point, that doesn’t necessarily help them. Footballing development always includes a personal journey as well – that was the approach we took, and it was the route through which we achieved our biggest successes.

WERDER.DE: You won’t have to wait much longer for your next appearance yourself, as the 100 Years of the Weserstadion legends’ match against Real Madrid takes place in September. Why are you always so happy to return to Bremen for occasions like this, would you say?

Per Mertesacker: Whenever I arrive in Bremen, I get that wonderful feeling of being back in a second or third home. I had five fantastic years here. The city is just so intrinsically Green-White, and we also had such a sense of freedom here. I really loved it there and developed enormously as a player. The club has given me so much that I am delighted whenever I can give something back, even in a small way.

WERDER.DE: You faced many great players during your career. Whose shirt would you like to swap at this match?

Per Mertesacker: I’m looking forward to seeing Ivan Klasnic. When I played against him for Hannover, he was one of the best finishers I ever faced inside the penalty area. With Real Madrid, it depends on who is involved. Maybe Raúl or Iker Casillas, who I shared many battles with between Spain and Germany – even though we often came out on the wrong side of those results. But at such a historic club with so many legends, I’ll be happy to see anyone who comes along.

WERDER.DE: We’re looking forward to it too. Thank you for your time, Per!