“You’re out.” A phrase that Marco Friedl wasn’t too pleased to hear from head coach Florian Kohfeldt, at half-time of the DFB-Pokal match against Atlas Delmenhorst. The 21-year-old picked up a minor thigh injury and had to come off. “It was a precaution,” Friedl reassured. But this is not a sign of things to come for the coming season, as Friedl is match fit and ready to fight for a starting position.
Despite the recent signing of Ömer Toprak and the increased competition for the starting spot, Friedl is looking to perform well, in order to become a first-team regular. “I still want to feature, even now that we have a full squad,” Friedl stated.
The defender has had a strong pre-season. He may start for the Green-Whites at left-back, rather than at his preferred position at center-back against Fortuna Düsseldorf on Saturday 17th August at 15:30 CEST, after Ludwig Augustinsson picked up an injury. Friedl said: “Where I play isn’t important. That is not my concern.”
In his first season at Werder, he has a completely different focus. “My aim is to play a more attacking role. Additionally I want to become more mature and efficient.” Should Friedl reach his goals, head coach Kohfeldt will likely play him more often.
