"I have so much respect for this club"

Naldo Interview

Ex-Green-White Naldo is coming back to Bremen on Saturday with Schalke (photo: nordphoto).
interview
Friday, 15.09.2017 / 10:37

The mutual appreciation is huge. “Naldo is a great guy. I don’t know anyone who has a bad word to say about him. He is always polite and treats everyone with respect,” Werder’s sporting director, Frank Baumann, said ahead of the clash against the ex-Werder player’s side. The two played together for four years. On Saturday, Naldo returns to the Weserstadion but for the first time with Schalke. Last weekend, the 35-year-old scored his first goal for the Royal Blues – on his birthday. “He is still one of the top performers in his team,” Baumann said, approvingly.

In an interview with WERDER.DE, Naldo looks ahead to the game on Saturday, he explains the ambitions he still has for his career and which Werder players the Schalke defence have to be particularly wary of.

WERDER.DE: Firstly a late happy birthday, Naldo! You turned 35 on Sunday. Do you not think of retiring often?

Naldo: “No, despite my age, I never think about that. I feel really good. It’s great fun with the lads. My wish is that both I and the whole team stay fit. I can play for a few more years and help the team.”

Naldo und Claudio Pizarro are still good friends nowadays (photo: nordphoto).

WERDER.DE: What targets do you still have for your already long and successful career?

Naldo: “My personal goal, as it has always been, is to win a title. That was the target in Bremen, in Wolfsburg and it is also my target at Schalke. Winning titles is what you play football for.”

WERDER.DE: Is there actually a bet with your old teammate Claudio Pizarro over who can have a longer career?

Naldo: (laughs) “No there isn’t a bet with Claudio. He’s a great striker and a really good friend of mine. Unfortunately he doesn’t play for Werder anymore. The fact that he has played until 38 years of age shows how amazing a footballer he is. That’s a long way off for me. My ambition is indeed to play for a few more years. But how long I end up playing for, I’m not sure. I’m happy he was at Werder for such a long time and it makes me sad that he is now a free agent. I wish him all the best. He is a legend.”

WERDER.DE: If you play in Bremen on Saturday, it won’t be the first time you have returned to the Weserstadion. Do you still have fond memories of Werder and the Weserstadion?

Naldo: “Bremen will always have a special place in my heart. Werder was my first club in Germany and the club helped me in so many ways. I can only thank them for that. It is always special to come back to Bremen and see the fans again. I have so much respect for this club. I’m looking forward to Saturday.”

Ex-Werder player Naldo has been a Schalke 04 player for a year (photo: nordphoto).

WERDER.DE: Now we can talk a bit about the game. You’ve started the season well with 6 points on the board. In contrast, Werder have only got one point so far. What sort of game are you expecting?

Naldo: “We have started pretty well – particularly compared to last season. Indeed Werder have only got a point so far but they’ve come up against teams competing in the Champions League and the Europa League this season. I think it will be a really hard game. We have to prepare well for it and stay fully concentrated for 90 minutes.”

WERDER.DE: Who are you and your defensive colleagues going to be most wary of on Saturday?

Naldo: “Bremen have a very good attacking line. When they play at home they push high up the pitch. Max Kruse runs the channels very well and Fin Bartels is a very quick player. We need to stay very compact because lots of the Werder players will try to get forward.”

WERDER.DE: And after the game will there be time for a chat and a catch-up? Who are you still in contact with at Werder? The team and staff has changed a lot…

Naldo: “I still talk to Frank Baumann a lot. Many players from my time have left now. Clemens Fritz left last season. But I will definitely have a long catch-up with Frank after the game.”

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