Niklas Moisander’s long wait is over. On Sunday against Paderborn, the Werder captain finally made his comeback – in a game he would have imagined going very differently. Given the current difficulties on the pitch, Moisander’s return is important for the team. In an interview with WERDER.DE, the defender spoke about the remaining games until Christmas, self confidence and sleepless nights.
WERDER.DE: Niklas, how’ve you been sleeping over the last few nights?
Niklas Moisander: "Not too well."
WERDER.DE: Why not? Is that mostly because of your six-week old daughter or was it the poor game against Paderborn?
Niklas Moisander: "Both (laughs). More so the game. Obviously we were all really disappointed after the last result and a lot of us haven’t been sleeping very well... I certainly imagined my comeback from injury going very differently. I wanted to return with a win and I’m annoyed that it didn’t happen."
WERDER.DE: Are you the kind of person who dwells on things?
Niklas Moisander: "I do dwell on things. When I was younger it sometimes used to take me two or three games to get over a defeat like that, but every day is more hectic with my family in the picture now. This means you’ve got less time to think about it and your focus is on other things. I think it’s a process that’s been very important in my life."
WERDER.DE: Has this allowed you to be happy about your comeback after three months out injured?
Niklas Moisander: "Of course, on a personal level I’m very pleased about my return. I was out for three months – that’s a long time and as the newly-appointed captain it was really difficult for me to not be around the team. I had imagined the game would go differently, though."
WERDER.DE: How do you feel physically?
Niklas Moisander: "I feel really good, but I have to admit, a Bundesliga game like that is a whole new physical burden. I’ve really felt the effects of it in my body in the last few days. I have to say, it is completely different from making a return from injury at 22 years old. But it was nice to be back and play 90 minutes straight away."
WERDER.DE: What is your take on the current situation? What is the team lacking?
Niklas Moisander: "It’s a difficult situation, which we can sense that. We’ve drawn too many games and have failed to win some important home games. We need our self-belief and confidence back in order to play our kind of football. We need to work on building up this belief."
WERDER.DE: What will be the deciding factors in the run up until Christmas?
Niklas Moisander: "We need to accept the situation for what it is. We’re currently looking down the table and we need to make sure we keep our distance from the relegation zone. That’s all that matters, and everyone in the team is aware of that."
[Translate to Englisch:]
WERDER.DE: Wie wichtig ist es in deinen Augen, dass die Abwehrkette personell konstant besetzt bleibt?
Niklas Moisander: „Das ist für jedes Team wichtig. Wir haben fast immer mit einer unterschiedlichen Abwehrkette gespielt. Das ist nicht gut. Im Match hatte ich ein gutes Gefühl, ich hoffe, das es so bleibt. Wir brauchen alle Spieler, auch defensiv. Wir sind eine Mannschaft, das müssen wir jetzt zeigen."
WERDER.DE: Ist das Wintertrainingslager eine willkommene Möglichkeit, den Restknopf zu drücken?
Niklas Moisander: „Darüber denken wir nicht nach. Wir denken nur bis Weihnachten, dass wir bis zum Jahreswechsel Punkte holen wollen, um dort wegzukommen. Das ist unser Ziel.“
WERDER.DE: Zum Abschluss ein Blick auf Samstag. Ist es eigentlich das schwerste oder das leichteste Spiel des Jahres?
Niklas Moisander (lacht): „Ich glaube, es ist das schwerste Spiel des Jahres. Bayern ist die stärkste Mannschaft der Bundesliga, auch wenn die Tabelle das gerade nicht wiederspiegelt. Sie haben so große individuelle Qualität. Klar, wir haben nichts zu verlieren. Wir wollen punkten, auch in München. Wir fahren da hin, um zu gewinnen.“
