Kainz is cheerful today. No wonder that the hero of the derby secured himself a spot in Werder’s history books, “not much has changed since them,” he remarked. “People approach me more often around town, but apart from that, not much.” But with regards to his footballing career, he was rewarded a week later in Ingolstadt. Manager Alexander Nouri gave him the nod to start the game, and he played 89 minutes before being brought off to take time off the clock.
The skillful dribbler looked back on his prominent rise lightheartedly, saying, “I needed a bit of time to adjust to the intensity of the Bundesliga, and I was under no illusion that competition for starting places would be tough. However, I stayed patient, worked hard on my game, and trained over the winter break.” Now he’s reaping the reward. “I’m very hopeful for the future,” said Kainz.