![[Translate to Englisch:] Theodor Gebre Selassie spricht mit WERDER.DE über seine Werder-Zeit.](https://werdercdn.azureedge.net/typo3temp/assets/_processed_/9/3/csm_6ece0dbaeaf672f224e7741b4a2e211e3821eb6d-fp-1000-600-1-12_c6d764e89e.jpg)
Theodor Gebre Selassie’s disappointment is still clear three days after SV Werder were relegated on Saturday. Following nine years with the Green-Whites, the Czech is leaving the club.
Theodor Gebre Selassie’s disappointment is still clear three days after SV Werder were relegated on Saturday. Following nine years with the Green-Whites, the Czech is leaving the club.
The 34-year-old fan favourite, who has always closely identified with the club and the city, sat down for a farewell interview with WERDER.DE on Tuesday.
WERDER.DE: Theo, your last game for Werder on Saturday was also the club’s last in the Bundesliga for the time being. After a few days to reflect on it, how are you feeling?
Theodor Gebre Selassie: “What happened is extremely sad, not just for me, but also for the fans and for everyone associated with Werder. I’m very sorry for the way that the season ended.”
![[Translate to Englisch:] Theodor Gebre Selassie spingt beim Jubeln hoch.](https://werdercdn.azureedge.net/fileadmin/_processed_/5/e/csm_gebreselassie_springt_254b007592.jpg)
WERDER.DE: How much have you reflected on the relegation since Saturday?
Theodor Gebre Selassie: “It’s been hard to think of anything else. I think it’ll take some time for me to come to terms with it. I hope that with a bit of time, I’ll be able to look back on the great times I had at Werder Bremen. But I’ll never forgot the experiences of the last few days. Relegation with Werder is the biggest disappointment of my whole career. I can only hope that it gets better as time passes.”
WERDER.DE: You’ve been at the club for nine years, so why have you decided to bring that time to an end now?
Theodor Gebre Selassie: “That’s life. (laughs) Everyone gets older and it was clear to me before this season that the 2020/21 would be my last at Werder. Now we would like to live with our family in the Czech Republic, be more in touch with our children's grandparents and spend time with our friends there. On the one hand I'm very sad that my Werder time is coming to an end, but I'm also looking forward to something new.”
WERDER.DE: How much does it hurt not to be able to say goodbye to the fans in the wohninvest WESERSTADION?
Theodor Gebre Selassie: “It was clear that the current situation with the pandemic wouldn’t allow that. At least I was able to say goodbye to a few fans from my car on Sunday, with everyone observing all of the hygiene regulations. And I’m also sure that I’ll be back in Bremen in the future. It would be nice if I could say goodbye to all the fans again in a better way after the pandemic.”
WERDER.DE: How important were the fans in Bremen for you?
Theodor Gebre Selassie: “We have built up a very close relationship over the years. It definitely wasn’t as strong as it is now on day one, which is natural. But the way the support has increased over the years is something that I really appreciate.”
It always made me very proud to play for Werder.Theodor Gebre Selassie
WERDER.DE: What was your overall experience of the fans?
Theodor Gebre Selassie: “They have always demonstrated that they’re behind the team, and never more so than when the going gets tough. That’s the best thing about the fans. When things are going well, it’s easy to support a team, but standing behind us when things aren’t going so well is when it really counts. They have always done that, and it’s something that I value very highly on a personal level.”
WERDER.DE: You made 298 competitive appearances for the Green-Whites. Which match sticks out as your favourite of those?
Theodor Gebre Selassie: “Wow… When you put me on the spot it’s very difficult to single out one game. Right now, all I can think of is the most recent game on Saturday. But I'm sure that will change with time and then I'll be able to remember all of the good games more clearly again and think much more positively than I do at the moment.”
WERDER.DE: What was it like for you that Thomas Schaaf, the coach who gave you your Bundesliga debut, was back in the dugout again on Saturday?
Theodor Gebre Selassie: “It was nice to have the opportunity to thank him personally for giving me the chance to come to the Bundesliga. Without him, I probably wouldn't have ended up at Werder. It was funny that he was also the coach for my final game here as well.”
![[Translate to Englisch:] Theodor Gebre Selassie streckt die Faust in den Himmel.](https://werdercdn.azureedge.net/fileadmin/_processed_/f/9/csm_gebreselassie_faust_08ce049f8e.jpg)
WERDER.DE: What will you take away with you from Bremen for your life off the pitch in the future?
Theodor Gebre Selassie: “Bremen will always be a place I will look forward to coming back to in the future. We have got to know great people here and it always made me very proud to play for Werder. The whole city stands behind the club. The people I met were always open, friendly and ready to help whenever I needed it.”
WERDER.DE: What’s next in the short-term?
Theodor Gebre Selassie: “ It’s very stressful with the move and all the cancellations and registrations. So there’s a lot more stress on the horizon for me. (laughs) But I think that in a fortnight or so, I’ll be able to rest for a while. Afterwards, I'll have enough energy to keep playing football hopefully. I still feel like I can play at a high level, even though the disappointment is so great at the moment that I can hardly imagine being back on the pitch. But I'm an athlete and I would miss it if I ended my career for good now.”
WERDER.DE: So you plan to continue playing professionally?
Theodor Gebre Selassie: “Yes, I hope so. But I want to spend some time resting and recovering now, so that I can pick up again reinvigorated.”
WERDER.DE: Thank you very much, Theo! All the best to you and your family and hopefully we'll see you again soon here in Bremen...
Theodor Gebre Selassie: “Many, many thanks. I'm sure we'll see each other again in Bremen!”
