Fritz: It’s a few years ago now, but we went to Leverkusen and won 1-0 on the last day of the season after a late Markus Rosenberg goal.
DFB.de: That was in 2007 / 2008...
Fritz: … exactly. We qualified Champions League with that win.
DFB.de: You played for Bayer Leverkusen between 2003 and 2006. What are your memories of this period?
Fritz: It was my first Bundesliga club. Leverkusen had an exceptional team back then, with players such as Carsten Ramelow, Jens Nowotny und Bernd Schneider - I learned a lot from them. I was a young player, and found it difficult at first but kept on pushing. I missed almost the entire 2004/05 season through injury, but it was still a good period of my life.
DFB.de: Why did you transfer to Bremen in 2006?
Fritz: Werder are a top club with their history. They were in the Champions League and had been crowned champions two years previously. That was huge motivation for me, and I never regretted this decision.
DFB.de: You won the DFB Cup in 2009 with Werder. Was this the biggest success of your career?
Clemens Fritz is nearing the end of his career. In January, the 35-year-old made it known that he would be hanging his boots up this summer. This Tuesday, the ex-Leverkusen player has the chance to return to his former club in the DFB Cup, with a semi-final place up for grabs. In an exclusive interview with DFB.de, Fritz spoke to Oliver Jensen about the upcoming match, and his plans for the future.
DFB.de: Mr. Fritz, have you approached training and games differently since you decided to retire at the end of the season?
Clemens Fritz:At certain points, I’m very aware of the fact that it will all be over soon. For example during the training camp in Belek, it was on my mind. It’s different to being a 22, 23 year-old player, with 20 training camps to look forward to. To be honest though, It might be nice not having to travel to a camp next summer (laughs).
DFB.de: You’ve now got the cup game against Bayer Leverkusen to look forward to. Is it special to have a knockout game like this against an ex-club in the final half season of your career?
Fritz: It’s a tricky, but also an exciting draw. I always look forward to away matches at Leverkusen. The stadium, the atmosphere and the fans are exceptional. We have had some great games there, but some not so great ones. I am looking forward to the game, and hope that we proceed. It will be a very difficult challenge.
DFB.de: In the Bundesliga, you’re fighting for survival. In the cup though, you’ve got nothing to lose. Is that an advantage?
Fritz: Of course. In the last cup match in Gladbach, we were the underdogs. We had nothing to lose because everyone expected us to lose. We played with courage and it is exactly that courage, passion and enthusiasm that we need to bring over to the Bundesliga.
DFB.de: Going back to Bayer Leverkusen, the record against your ex-club is positive - six wins, six draws and five defeats. What game do you remember most?
Fritz: It’s a few years ago now, but we went to Leverkusen and won 1-0 on the last day of the season after a late Markus Rosenberg goal.
DFB.de: That was in 2007 / 2008...
Fritz: … exactly. We qualified Champions League with that win.
DFB.de: You played for Bayer Leverkusen between 2003 and 2006. What are your memories of this period?
Fritz: It was my first Bundesliga club. Leverkusen had an exceptional team back then, with players such as Carsten Ramelow, Jens Nowotny und Bernd Schneider - I learned a lot from them. I was a young player, and found it difficult at first but kept on pushing. I missed almost the entire 2004/05 season through injury, but it was still a good period of my life.
DFB.de: Why did you transfer to Bremen in 2006?
Fritz: Werder are a top club with their history. They were in the Champions League and had been crowned champions two years previously. That was huge motivation for me, and I never regretted this decision.
DFB.de: You won the DFB Cup in 2009 with Werder. Was this the biggest success of your career?
Fritz: You could say so yes. There have been many other emotional moments, but the lifting the cup in the Olympiastadion in Berlin is an incredible feeling.
DFB.de: So it would be a dream to end your career with another triumph?
Fritz: I certainly wouldn’t say no. It would be a fantastic ending.
DFB.de: Has the relegation fight influenced your decision to retire at the end of the season?
Fritz: No. I would have stopped last season had that been the case. The main points are just that I want to stay fit, and perform at a high level consistently. The situation in the table made no difference whatsoever.
DFB.de: You have played 20 Champions League matches for Werder, including games against the likes of FC Barcelona, Real Madrid and Chelsea. Your last appearance came in 2010 - did you ever think that the club would be struggling at the bottom of the table so soon afterwards?
Fritz: It was clear at the time that the club was going to enter into a transitional period. I was prepared to stick by the club, and to help the younger players develop. I never thought Werder would be involved in relegation battles for three, four years in a row. We need to look ahead positively, and aim high for the coming seasons.
DFB.de: What has changed in all your years at the top level?
Fritz: Social media. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram - or whatever they’re called. At the beginning of my career, these didn’t exist and you were a lot more anonymous.
DFB.de: You run a properties business with Per Mertesacker. Is that your plan for the future? Or do you want to stay in football?
Fritz: That is my second foot to stand on as it were. My plan is to relax for a year after returning, and to reflect on everything. I have a degree in sports science, and will complete a trainee programme at Werder Bremen.
