Max Kruse has been making good use of the international break. Werder’s leading attacker has managed to overcome his muscle issues. “I’m feeling back at my best,” said Kruse, who missed the home match against RB Leipzig due to injury and was in good spirits when he spoke to WERDER.DE. The 28-year-old is fit to go for Saturday and could make a return to Bundesliga action in the clash with his former club, SC Freiburg.
Kruse spent one year at SCF in a year that for him today is still “full of positive memories”. He went on to say, “Freiburg was the point in my career where I moved forward the furthest. I came from the second division and completed my first season there as a professional in the Bundesliga. For me, but also for the whole team, everything went brilliantly. It was a very good and successful year,” said a reminiscing Kruse.
SCF managed to secure an eighth-place finish under the coaching of Christian Streich as well as reaching the semi-finals of the DFB Pokal, which they lost to VfB Stuttgart. “For me personally it was actually maybe slightly better that we didn’t reach the final, said Kruse with a grin. Since Kruse did not have to make the journey to Berlin for the cup final, he had the time to travel to the USA with the Germany national team afterwards, where he was able to make his international debut.
Streich, who opened his coaching career at Freiburg at the same time as Kruse almost five years ago, will take charge of his 201st game with the club on Saturday. Streich also played a huge part in helping Kruse make his breakthrough. The forward played in all 39 competitive games in the 2012/13 season. “He played a very, very big role in my development and for that I am still grateful today,” said Kruse. Both are still in regular contact via SMS.
“He acts himself. He doesn’t hide anything. He has an opinion on lots of matters and makes his views known publicly. I think that is a good thing,” said Kruse on his former coach. The 51-year-old and his 13-year younger former player are on the same wavelength when it comes to the game. “Anyone who knows me will realise that I think in a similar way to him and also give my opinions. That is why we got along well.” Even though there will not be much time for him after the game on Saturday with such a busy fixture list coming up, the two will certainly make some time to have a chat afterwards.
