"A super experience facing old friends"

Robert Bauer interview

Robert Bauer arrived in Bremen in the summer from Ingolstadt. (Photo: nordphoto).
interview
Wednesday, 30.11.2016 / 11:04

Robert Bauer has experienced a mixed start to his new life in Bremen. Arriving off the back of a silver-medal win at the Olympic Games with Germany, his new team suffered four consecutive defeats at the start of the Bundesliga season. While he was in the starting XI for each of these losses, he also started as the Green-Whites claimed their first victory of the season against VfL Wolfsburg. However, the return from injury of left-back Santiago García, has meant Bauer has found himself on the bench more often recently. Nevertheless, after not featuring for four matches, he lined up at the weekend in the Nordderby, and next Saturday’s Bundesliga encounter with FC Ingolstadt will be particularly special for Bauer, as his former side visit the Weser-Stadion.

WERDER.DE sat down with the 21 year old and chatted with him about his appearance against HSV, his two and four-legged friends from his time in Ingolstadt and the clash against his old team on Saturday.

WERDER.DE: Robert, against Hamburg you started for Werder for the first time since matchday six, how was it?

Robert Bauer: “It was a great feeling to play from the start of the game again, especially as it was against Hamburg in the derby. It was a relief to finally be able to feature from the first minute again, I'm thankful to the coach as he put his faith in me and I tried to pay this trust back in the best possible way.”

In the Nordderby, Robert Bauer was deployed at right-back. (Photo: nordphoto).

WERDER.DE: In the friendlies against St. Pauli and Osnabrück you were deployed at right-back and last Saturday was your first time playing this role in the Bundesliga. Would you say it’s your favourite position?

Robert Bauer: “When I arrived here, it was often emphasised that I was bought for this position. Personally, I see myself playing this position in the long run and therefore I was happy to finally be able to play there in the Bundesliga.”

WERDER.DE: Werder have conceded 31 goals this season, and with your inclusion on the weekend it was the eighth different back-four that Werder have lined up with in twelve Bundesliga games. What kind of impact does this constant changing have?

Robert Bauer: “I don’t think it plays a role at all. In training we also try out different combinations and that way you get to know everyone well. Conceding isn’t just down to the back-four, it starts from the strikers, then the midfield to the defence and the goalkeeper. We have to work better together when we don’t have the ball, we know that and try to work on it during the week. It’s more about practising certain movements so they just become automatic in a game.”

WERDER.DE: Saturday is the next chance to show what you’ve been doing in training is paying off as your former club Ingolstadt visit the Weser-Stadion. What special memories do you have of FCI?

Robert Bauer: “All of my memories of my old team are extremely positive. We achieved promotion together which no one expected of us. Also, no one thought we would stay up so easily. I have many friends there who I look forward to seeing again and who I’ll perhaps get the chance to have a chat with after the game. Now they’re all my opponents, but it’ll be a super experience to face my old friends.”

Robert Bauer faced Werder once during his time at FCI. (Photo: nordphoto).

WERDER.DE: Have you already been in contact with old teammates ahead of Saturday’s game?

Robert Bauer: “On and off, yes. We still have a WhatsApp group of the old team who were promoted together and some lads from last year, we’ve spoke about the upcoming match. I often meet with my friend Max Christiansen, who I lived with in Ingolstadt.”

WERDER.DE: You even shared a pet!

Robert Bauer: “(laughs) Yes, we got a cat at the start of last year, it was a spontaneous idea. I don’t know how we arrived at the idea, we were definitely in the city centre and just bought one. When we were living together, the cat wandered around our flat, but after my move we gave it to Max’ mum as he couldn’t look after it by himself.”

WERDER.DE: Changing the subject from the cat and moving back to football, what kind of game do you expect on Saturday? Ingolstadt haven’t been in the best of form recently...

Robert Bauer: “I, as well as Werder, know very well what it’s like to play Ingolstadt. We’re preparing ourselves for a tough game, FCI have a lot of fight and passion in them. We’ll have to combat this and then try to let our individual class shine though and get the win.”

 

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