Poor form is a thing of the past for 26-year-old Marcell Jansen who, under coaches Armin Veh and Michael Oenning respectively, found himself on the subs' bench far too often for his own liking, but whose fortunes have changed under the guidance of new Hamburg SV manager Thorsten Fink. He even opened the scoring in his team's 2-1 victory away to Hertha BSC Berlin last weekend.
And he's likely to be in Fink's starting line-up for the game on Saturday evening (kick-off 18:30, broadcast live on Sky) against visitors FC Bayern Munich, the club he played for in the 2007-08 season. Talking to DFB.de writer Oliver Jensen, he looks back on his Munich days, talks turf, and ventures a look at a certain tournament later this summer.
DFB.de: Marcell, the match on Saturday will rekindle an old German football rivalry, the North meeting the South – do you feel anything special when playing against your old club?
Marcell Jansen: Well, not any more. After all, we meet them twice every season, but when you ask me "Are you looking forward to the match?" the answer is a resounding Yes, of course! Bayern are favourites, they deserve their number one spot on the table, but we have nothing to lose. We'd taken a hammering against Dortmund at home but came back very well against Berlin; now all we want is to put on a good fight and maybe snatch three points.
DFB.de: Why do you think things worked out better?
Jansen: In Berlin, it somehow felt like we hit the ground running, creating chances, growing in confidence, and playing good, attacking football.
DFB.de: Early this week, new turf was laid out in the Hamburg stadium – the third of its kind this season. Is turf quality an issue in the dressing room?
Jansen: Oh yes, I think we're the club that have to re-lay the playing surface more often than anybody else. The coach wants us to play free-flowing, technique-oriented football, but given the state of the actual pitch, that's easier said than done. The turf will be just great for two or three matches, but the thing is the sod never takes root. I just hope they find a way to solve the problem.
DFB.de: Prices for tickets to the Bayern game seem a bit steep, with people having to part with up to EUR 94 for a seat. How do you feel about that?
Jansen: I think all of the clubs in the Bundesliga should ensure that we don't end up with stadiums where goals are met with polite applause, if you know what I mean. Football needs true supporters who provide the cheering, the chanting, the sheer excitement of the game. You shouldn't lock these people out. But like I said, that's a Bundesliga-wide issue, not just Hamburg's.
DFB.de: Looking back on your days at Bayern Munich, is there anything special you learned there?
Jansen: Training under the tuition of Ottmar Hitzfeld meant a lot to me. I think he's one of the greatest coaches in football history, or at least in Bundesliga history. He taught me high standards and how to live up to them, always. Also, as a young player, I loved being in a team with world-class players like Oliver Kahn. I enjoyed every day at Bayern Munich, I matured as a person, and played 30 official matches during that season, despite an injury that kept me out for four long months – not bad for a 22-year-old. I'd say Munich was a success.
DFB.de: And yet, after only one year, you left…
Jansen: Well, we got a new coach (Jürgen Klinsmann, DFB.de) and that changed everything from one day to the other. Football is such a fast-moving business. But career-wise, leaving Munich was no change for the worse. I kept being called up for the national team, was in the squad for two major tournaments and, with Hamburg, got through to two UEFA Cup semi-finals.
DFB.de: Let's have a look at the club where you started out as a professional player – Borussia Mönchengladbach, no doubt the biggest surprise team this season. But do they have championship potential?
Jansen: That remains to be seen. I for one wish them every luck and success. It's obvious they've become a quality side, nothing can throw them off balance, I'm impressed! I hope they can keep this up until the end of the season.
DFB.de: You've already mentioned the German national team; EURO 2012 is going to kick off in little more than four months' time, but your last appearance for Germany dates back to September 2010, against Belgium. Any hopes to win a place in Löw's final selection?
Jansen: I'm having a near-perfect season, I'm very fit and have played many matches. So, based on performance I think I have a chance. That's what the Bundesliga is there for – show the coach what you can do!
DFB.de: Media rumour has it that some players, for example you and Hamburg team-mate Heiko Westermann, no longer figure in Löw's notebook.
Jansen: I wouldn't confirm that.
DFB.de: Germany have played an almost flawless qualifying campaign. Does that make it any harder for the other players?
Jansen: I am confident that at the end of day, what really counts is form, fitness, and performance. Joachim Löw has always said that the last six months before a tournament are decisive. So we're all entering the final straight, as it were.
DFB.de: Would you consider yourself a left-back or a midfielder?
Jansen: These tags don't really matter to me. In South Africa, I played both positions.
DFB.de: In left midfield, Podolski and Schürrle seem to have their places firmly booked, and Phillip Lahm is the left-back of choice…
Jansen: Of course we have some excellent young players coming through, but it's always been that way. The key factor here is how you present yourself just ahead of preparation. Two years ago, I joined the World Cup squad when I hadn't even touched a ball for two months. Still, I played in more than 50 percent of all games and even scored in the match for 3rd place. All of that gives me peace of mind when thinking about my EURO 2012 chances.
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Poor form is a thing of the past for 26-year-old Marcell Jansen who, under coaches Armin Veh and Michael Oenning respectively, found himself on the subs' bench far too often for his own liking, but whose fortunes have changed under the guidance of new Hamburg SV manager Thorsten Fink. He even opened the scoring in his team's 2-1 victory away to Hertha BSC Berlin last weekend.
And he's likely to be in Fink's starting line-up for the game on Saturday evening (kick-off 18:30, broadcast live on Sky) against visitors FC Bayern Munich, the club he played for in the 2007-08 season. Talking to DFB.de writer Oliver Jensen, he looks back on his Munich days, talks turf, and ventures a look at a certain tournament later this summer.
DFB.de: Marcell, the match on Saturday will rekindle an old German football rivalry, the North meeting the South – do you feel anything special when playing against your old club?
Marcell Jansen: Well, not any more. After all, we meet them twice every season, but when you ask me "Are you looking forward to the match?" the answer is a resounding Yes, of course! Bayern are favourites, they deserve their number one spot on the table, but we have nothing to lose. We'd taken a hammering against Dortmund at home but came back very well against Berlin; now all we want is to put on a good fight and maybe snatch three points.
DFB.de: Why do you think things worked out better?
Jansen: In Berlin, it somehow felt like we hit the ground running, creating chances, growing in confidence, and playing good, attacking football.
DFB.de: Early this week, new turf was laid out in the Hamburg stadium – the third of its kind this season. Is turf quality an issue in the dressing room?
Jansen: Oh yes, I think we're the club that have to re-lay the playing surface more often than anybody else. The coach wants us to play free-flowing, technique-oriented football, but given the state of the actual pitch, that's easier said than done. The turf will be just great for two or three matches, but the thing is the sod never takes root. I just hope they find a way to solve the problem.
DFB.de: Prices for tickets to the Bayern game seem a bit steep, with people having to part with up to EUR 94 for a seat. How do you feel about that?
Jansen: I think all of the clubs in the Bundesliga should ensure that we don't end up with stadiums where goals are met with polite applause, if you know what I mean. Football needs true supporters who provide the cheering, the chanting, the sheer excitement of the game. You shouldn't lock these people out. But like I said, that's a Bundesliga-wide issue, not just Hamburg's.
DFB.de: Looking back on your days at Bayern Munich, is there anything special you learned there?
Jansen: Training under the tuition of Ottmar Hitzfeld meant a lot to me. I think he's one of the greatest coaches in football history, or at least in Bundesliga history. He taught me high standards and how to live up to them, always. Also, as a young player, I loved being in a team with world-class players like Oliver Kahn. I enjoyed every day at Bayern Munich, I matured as a person, and played 30 official matches during that season, despite an injury that kept me out for four long months – not bad for a 22-year-old. I'd say Munich was a success.
DFB.de: And yet, after only one year, you left…
Jansen: Well, we got a new coach (Jürgen Klinsmann, DFB.de) and that changed everything from one day to the other. Football is such a fast-moving business. But career-wise, leaving Munich was no change for the worse. I kept being called up for the national team, was in the squad for two major tournaments and, with Hamburg, got through to two UEFA Cup semi-finals.
DFB.de: Let's have a look at the club where you started out as a professional player – Borussia Mönchengladbach, no doubt the biggest surprise team this season. But do they have championship potential?
Jansen: That remains to be seen. I for one wish them every luck and success. It's obvious they've become a quality side, nothing can throw them off balance, I'm impressed! I hope they can keep this up until the end of the season.
DFB.de: You've already mentioned the German national team; EURO 2012 is going to kick off in little more than four months' time, but your last appearance for Germany dates back to September 2010, against Belgium. Any hopes to win a place in Löw's final selection?
Jansen: I'm having a near-perfect season, I'm very fit and have played many matches. So, based on performance I think I have a chance. That's what the Bundesliga is there for – show the coach what you can do!
DFB.de: Media rumour has it that some players, for example you and Hamburg team-mate Heiko Westermann, no longer figure in Löw's notebook.
Jansen: I wouldn't confirm that.
DFB.de: Germany have played an almost flawless qualifying campaign. Does that make it any harder for the other players?
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Jansen: I am confident that at the end of day, what really counts is form, fitness, and performance. Joachim Löw has always said that the last six months before a tournament are decisive. So we're all entering the final straight, as it were.
DFB.de: Would you consider yourself a left-back or a midfielder?
Jansen: These tags don't really matter to me. In South Africa, I played both positions.
DFB.de: In left midfield, Podolski and Schürrle seem to have their places firmly booked, and Phillip Lahm is the left-back of choice…
Jansen: Of course we have some excellent young players coming through, but it's always been that way. The key factor here is how you present yourself just ahead of preparation. Two years ago, I joined the World Cup squad when I hadn't even touched a ball for two months. Still, I played in more than 50 percent of all games and even scored in the match for 3rd place. All of that gives me peace of mind when thinking about my EURO 2012 chances.
