Clemens Fritz is feeling relaxed. It’s been a long, exhausting season for the captain. Werder played 39 games all season, of which Fritz took part in 33. And the longer the season went on, one that we all though would be his last, the greater the weight of responsibility that fell on his shoulders of the evergreen midfielder.
"We had our backs against the wall in the last few weeks. It was an extreme situation for us. It was absolutely necessary that we put points on the board,” reflected Fritz honestly. For someone who had played 313 Bundesliga matches in his 13 years, it was a completely new experience.
After staying up in dramatic fashion on the final day of the season, the burden of relegation was finally lifted from the shoulders of everyone at the club. But for Clemens Fritz the relief especially great. Now he and his teammates can look forward to a well-deserved holiday. “You need a few days to recover physically and mentally. I’m looking forward to that the feeling of being fully rested," said Fritz.
He is yet to formulate any concrete plans for coming weeks, with Werder’s intense relegation occupying much of concentration in recent weeks. “We had no idea what would happen after Saturday’s game,” said Fritz with a grin. After losing the all-important game on matchday 34, Frankfurt now have to overcome 1. FC Nürnberg to stay in the league, while the Green-Whites relax and enjoy the off-season.
But the summer break is also a chance to reflect on the last few months. “We really came together as a team and club. On top of that, the fans really gave us a boost,” summed up the 35-year old. But at the same time, the captain expects his teammates to take an honest look at themselves during the break. “We are self-critical enough to know that we did not meet our own expectations this season. Everyone is guilty of not performing as well as we know we can. We have more quality than we showed on the pitch.”
The team must learn from the situation and mistakes must be analysed. “We have enough time to reflect on this season. For me it is important that each individual in the team looks back on the season critically and has a think about what they can do better themselves. We will work hard and start the new season positively,” told Fritz.
