Wiedwald: It was a very important step in my career. It helped a lot with my development, playing for the second team. I always wanted to be number one with the first team. Duisburg gave me the opportunity to do so.
DFB.de: Did you keep in contact with Werder Bremen during your spells at MSV Duisburg and Eintracht Frankfurt?
Wiedwald: I always had a connection to Bremen. My family, wife and friends all come from there. Goalkeeper coach Christian Vander, who I had been training with, was a useful friendly contact. I never thought I would be able to return, which makes it even better that I was able to.
DFB.de: The competition for number one keeper has not really taken off, as Raphael Wolf picked up an injury in pre season. Do you think you would have been first choice anyway?
Wiedwald: Only the coaching team can answer that question. I think I did well in pre season. Raphael will be back this winter, so I will have to adjust to this competition. I want to defend my place in goal.
DFB.de: You were first choice in the second Bundesliga and substitute keeper for Eintracht in the Bundesliga. How big a challenge is it to play week in week out in the top league?
Wiedwald: You certainly notice the difference between first and second division. There’s nowhere to hide in the Bundesliga, and you have to perform week in week out. Also, you are judged differently as a first choice goalkeeper compared to a substitute one. The little things are ignored if you are not first choice, whereas the number one has to be faultless. It is important to maintain complete concentration.
DFB.de: Is it a problem for young keepers at Werder to always be seen as Wiese’s replacement?
SV Werder Bremen find themselves in a relegation battle in the Bundesliga, but will be fighting to reach the quarter final of the DFB Cup. To do so, they will have to find a way around Borussia Mönchengladbach tonight at 19:00 CET. In an exclusive interview with DFB, Werder goalkeeper Felix Wiedwald talks to Oliver Jensen about the cup clash, his career thus far, and the meaning behind number 42.
DFB.de: Mr. Wiedwald, do you think you’ve been given one of the hardest draws with the away match at Gladbach?
Felix Wiedwald: Gladbach have been doing very well since changing their manager. It won’t be an easy game, but if we want to go far in the competition then these are the kinds of games we need to overcome.
DFB.de: You won 2-1 against Gladbach on matchday three of the season. Does this give you more confidence going into the cup game?
Wiedwald: Absolutely. We played with real desire in that match, and showed that we are capable of beating this team. If we give everything tonight, then I’m confident we can triumph again.
DFB.de: Werder are involved in a bit of a relegation battle in the Bundesliga. Is the DFB Cup a nice distraction?
Wiedwald: Of course. We can forget about the Bundesliga – that will do us good. Cup games are always exciting, as only one team can progress. It would of course be good to have some success in the cup, and to take this confidence with us over to the league.
DFB.de: Did you expect to be so far down the table at the start of the season?
Wiedwald: We knew that the season wouldn’t be easy. We started well, but then had five straight defeats. This caused us to slip down.
DFB.de: Conceding goals has been a problem in Bremen for many years. Why is this always the case?
Wiedwald: I think that by and large, our defence is fairly solid. The nine goals we conceded against Wolfsburg and HSV were a big dent in our goal difference.
DFB.de: You haven’t kept a clean sheet yet in the league. In the cup, you have two. Are you enjoying it more?
Wiedwald: The only thing that matters for me is winning the game.
DFB.de: Talk to us about your career. Apparently you became a goalkeeper because you were a big fan of Oliver Kahn and Frank Rost. Is this true?
Wiedwald: That wasn’t a crucial factor. I started as a handball goalkeeper, but then started to play football as an outfield player before dropping back into goal. I was of course inspired by the big goalkeepers like Oliver Kahn and Frank Rost. Particularly Rost, as he was a Werder keeper, and Werder have been my favourite team since I was a child. I have actually walked into the stadium with Frank Rost before.
DFB.de: You went through all the youth teams at Werder, before making your debut in the third division. In 2011, you moved to second division side MSV Duisburg – why did you make this move?
Wiedwald: It was a very important step in my career. It helped a lot with my development, playing for the second team. I always wanted to be number one with the first team. Duisburg gave me the opportunity to do so.
DFB.de: Did you keep in contact with Werder Bremen during your spells at MSV Duisburg and Eintracht Frankfurt?
Wiedwald: I always had a connection to Bremen. My family, wife and friends all come from there. Goalkeeper coach Christian Vander, who I had been training with, was a useful friendly contact. I never thought I would be able to return, which makes it even better that I was able to.
DFB.de: The competition for number one keeper has not really taken off, as Raphael Wolf picked up an injury in pre season. Do you think you would have been first choice anyway?
Wiedwald: Only the coaching team can answer that question. I think I did well in pre season. Raphael will be back this winter, so I will have to adjust to this competition. I want to defend my place in goal.
DFB.de: You were first choice in the second Bundesliga and substitute keeper for Eintracht in the Bundesliga. How big a challenge is it to play week in week out in the top league?
Wiedwald: You certainly notice the difference between first and second division. There’s nowhere to hide in the Bundesliga, and you have to perform week in week out. Also, you are judged differently as a first choice goalkeeper compared to a substitute one. The little things are ignored if you are not first choice, whereas the number one has to be faultless. It is important to maintain complete concentration.
DFB.de: Is it a problem for young keepers at Werder to always be seen as Wiese’s replacement?
Wiedwald: I’m sure it wasn’t easy for Sebastian Mielitz, being his direct successor. Wiese didn’t always faultless games, but he was spectacular and had many good moments. I think the whole 'Wiese replacement' issue is a bit old now.
DFB.de: You wear number 42 for Werder. Why this number?
Wiedwald: I had this number before leaving Werder first time around. I hadn’t made any Bundesliga appearances, and wanted to achieve this aim with that number on my back. But it doesn’t have any real significance. I had 18 at Duisburg and 30 at Frankfurt.
