He has never forgotten his time in the academy, and he has also never forgotten his Bundesliga debut: an historic 8-1 win at the Weser-Stadion against Arminia Bielefeld. After seven years, Max Kruse is back in Bremen. The 28-year-old wants to achieve one thing above anything else at Werder: to reignite his love of being a professional footballer. The Green-Whites are like a new old home for Kruse. After signing his contract, Kruse gave an interview to WERDER.DE.
WERDER.DE: Welcome back to Bremen, Max. You were keen to move to Werder. What are the reasons for your transfer?
Max Kruse: “First of all, I am very happy that everything was sorted so quickly and that I am now here. Frank Baumann and Viktor Skripnik really worked hard to get me, and I felt a great sense of trust in them. Werder were the team that gave me the chance to be a professional footballer and now I want to pay them back a little bit. It was clear to me that I needed to go to a place that feels like home, and a club that is 100% behind me.”
WERDER.DE: What are your personal goals at Werder?
Max Kruse: “I simply want to help the team get back to more successful times. For me personally, it is important to integrate quickly so that I can aid the team on the pitch and above all, get back to enjoying my football. I want to do this job forever and Bremen is the perfect place to do that.”
WERDER.DE: You are familiar with the club because of your time with Werder from 2006 to 2009. You managed to make the step up from the academy to the first team here. What memories do you have of this time?
Max Kruse: “I have many. It was the first step in my professional career and I learned a lot. Werder is a great club in all areas, from the academy to the first team, and that was the same back then too. Young players are very often allowed to train with the first team and make the leap to the next level. Werder has always been a club full of tradition.”
WERDER.DE: Is there something particularly special that you took away from your first spell at the club?
Max Kruse: “I obviously have very fond memories of my time with the boys in the academy first team, and I will never forget my first Bundesliga match. And at the time, I always dreamed of starting a match at the Weser-Stadion…”
WERDER.DE: With Pauli, Freiburg, Gladbach and Wolfsburg, you have visited the Weser-Stadion a number of times. Has anything changed at Werder over this period of time…
Max Kruse: “Exactly what has changed is difficult to say from the outside. It was made clear that a club like Werder can no longer go on without any difficulties, like eight or nine years ago. But the potential here is huge, just like always. I think that the squad has been made much stronger in recent times, and several top performers from last season have stayed at the club. Because of this, I am optimistic that we can start to move further up the table.”
The fans are simply world-classMax Kruse
WERDER.DE: You left the club as an inexperienced youngster and return as a capped international. How much has the role changed that you will take up in the team?
Max Kruse: “We will see. I come here as an international footballer and I want to use this experience. I am aware that a lot of hope is being placed on me and that it is going to be a big challenge. What’s done is done. The only thing that counts is the here and now, and that I put everything in on the pitch. I will work very hard here. There are a lot of things to be played out in the coming weeks before the season starts. I have not even met the boys or taken part in training yet.”
WERDER.DE: You know one of your new teammates already though. Fin Bartels is an old colleague of yours from your time at St. Pauli. Have you kept in contact over the years or spoken to home before signing your contract?
Max Kruse: “We have always kept in contact with each other. We recently met up on holiday. Once it became more certain, we started talking a lot more. I obviously asked him a few things about the dynamic of the team, and I wanted to know how everything was going. He gave me a very positive assessment.”
WERDER.DE: We are a relatively long way into pre-season. What are you mainly focussing on before the DFB Cup gets under way in just under three weeks?
Max Kruse: “I am at a very high level of fitness. We worked very hard at Wolfsburg. The first priority is to integrate into the team, study the tactics and then find out who i link up with the best. It will all fall into place, so I am quite relaxed.”
WERDER.DE: You were here with Wolfsburg in April, and you lost 3-2. It was an extremely important and emotional victory for Werder. What did you make of the match, the fans and Werder’s impressive finish in the following weeks?
Max Kruse: “It was very impressive. When you turn up to the Weser-Stadion before a game and half the stadium are waiting to greet the team, then even as the opposition you get goosebumps. Werder had their backs against the wall, and it was clear to see the great potential that the club has. The last few matches really brought the team, the club and the fans closer together. The fans are simply world-class.”
WERDER.DE: How much are you looking forward to the new season with these fans behind you?
Max Kruse: “I can’t wait! The fans will give us a big push this season. Whether it all works out from the start or not, we will see, but the fans will stick by us all the way.”
