In recent years, Marvin Ducksch has played a key role in helping SV Werder return to the Bundesliga and re-establish themselves there. The 31-year-old’s contract automatically extended after he featured in the away win in Stuttgart last Sunday. Ducksch spoke to WERDER.DE about his strike partner Oliver Burke, personal targets and his future.
WERDER.DE: Moin Marvin, we’ve now reached the business end of the season. What kind of an impact does this time of the year have on the changing room and the players?
Marvin Ducksch: After some tough moments over the last few weeks and months, we’ve got ourselves in a really good position again. The mood in the dressing room was always good though, we were self-critical and knew that we had to improve. We’ve done that and now want to collect as many of the 15 remaining points on offer as we can.
WERDER.DE: You have just beaten Eintracht Frankfurt and VfB Stuttgart, two teams that generally like to have possession. Bochum, this weekend’s opponents, tend to let the other side have the ball. Will this game be a different kind of challenge?
Marvin Ducksch: Definitely. It will be a totally different game – it won’t be any easier, just different. As you mentioned, we’ll have lots more possession and that means that space will be available in different areas of the pitch. During this period of the season, it’s all about remaining calm and enjoying our football. We want to give the fans something back in our last two home games.
WERDER.DE: Your current strike partner Oliver Burke is one of the quickest players right now in the Bundesliga. How do you benefit from each other’s strengths?
Marvin Ducksch: Having another striker alongside me who likes to sprint in behind at pace is a good match for my style of play. His aerial ability also allows him to win the ball and hold it up like Niclas Füllkrug used to. He’s a fantastic player and a different Burkey to the one we originally got to know – it’s great to watch him play.
WERDER.DE: You reached double figures for goals in each of the previous two Bundesliga campaigns and need three more goals to do so again this time around.
Marvin Ducksch: For me, it’s more important that we improve as a team on last season. I’m really ambitious and always want to improve myself as well. I personally would like to reach double figures for both goals and assists this season.
WERDER.DE: You have scored a number of great goals during your career. What would winning the Sportschau's Goal of the Month award for your free-kick in Kiel mean to you?
Marvin Ducksch: Winning an award is always nice. It’s confirmation that you’re doing things well. However, it’s not that important to me because I’d rather finish the season strongly as a team. If my goals help us do that, I’ll definitely try my best in that regard.
I’m pleased that my contract has been extended by another year at Werder Bremen.
WERDER.DE: Following your goal in Kiel you celebrated by zipping up your mouth, referring to the fact that you want to criticise your teammates less often.
Marvin Ducksch: It’s the kind of thing that I don’t notice too much in games. I just want to win and sometimes that comes off negatively. The lads know that it is well-meant. I just want us to be successful.
WERDER.DE: Peter Niemeyer confirmed after the Stuttgart game that your contract has been automatically extended due to an appearance clause. Was reaching this number of appearances something that was on your mind?
Marvin Ducksch: I didn’t feel any pressure, I was pretty certain that I would reach this number and I’m ambitious enough to achieve my targets. I’m pleased that my contract has been extended by another year at Werder Bremen. My focus is now on our final matches and hopefully we can have a lot to celebrate still this season.
WERDER.DE: At the age of 31, you are now one of the older players in the squad. Do you feel like you are already in the autumn of your career?
Marvin Ducksch: No, I feel really, really good. I don’t think I’ve even reached the peak of my career, I think I can still improve. My body feels good and I can definitely still compete at this level. I would obviously have to start thinking about things if that were no longer the case, but I’m way off that right now. I’m just looking forward to the final five games of the season now.
WERDER.DE: Good luck and thank you for your time, Marvin!
