“Very happy to help out the team again”

Berlin – Mitchell Weiser leaves Schenckendorffplatz soaked to the skin. Berlin’s spring seems like winter for the moment, and it would be understandable if the relentless rain and chilling temperatures bothered the 23-year-old. However, the opposite rings true: the right-footed wide player marches back to the dressing room in a mild-mannered fashion as he shares a joke with Ondrej Duda here and a word with Vedad Ibisevic there. “I’m pleased to be playing football with the team again,” said Weiser to herthabsc.de. The blonde has been out with an injury since the end of March, and it was a serious one at that. He’s already been sent back to the medical bay on more than one occasion: first with a muscular issue, then with back problems, and finally with a muscle strain in his left thigh. He has now returned for the most crucial part of the season and is an option for manager Pál Dárdai.

herthabsc.de: Mitch, you’ve now taken part in a few team training sessions again. How are you feeling?
Mitchell Weiser: It’s going great for me, this week has been super. I’m still not quite 100%, but it’s been a lot of fun to train with the team again. I trained for a long time individually – almost constantly since the end of November – bar two short phases. I got out of rhythm because of that. Training is always different to playing in a game, but I think that every minute out on the pitch does me good – perhaps I can endure half an hour. 

herthabsc.de: You’ve said yourself that you’ve had a few setbacks recently. You haven’t participated in many matches as you would have liked to, and quickly picked up another injury. How difficult has this time been for you? 
Weiser: Injuries are indeed not very nice, and there’s nothing that frustrates me more than having the fun sucked out of my life. Football is my passion and hugely important aspect of my life. I always strive to make the best of tough times. 
Vedad Ibisevic: What does he want to do? Give his best (laughs)? 
Weiser: It would be easier if I had a captain who’d push me every day… (grins)

 

 

herthabsc.de: Just three games remain for Hertha BSC. How important is it for the manager to have multiple names to choose for the team-sheet in the closing stages of the season? 
Weiser: It’s not just me who has returned, there are others that were injuries or picked up small knocks who are now available for selection again. It’s good for the manger – but it’s harder for him to pick the starters. It’ll be easier to pick up points in the Bundesliga if we can field our best eleven and continue to have players fit and ready to play. The team has been changing from game to game as of late, but the boys have played well nonetheless – especially at home. I’m very happy to be able to help out the team again – at least a little.” 

herthabsc.de: Leipzig are coming to Berlin on Saturday, and in the reverse-fixture you had to come off injured after 11 minutes. Are those thoughts in your mind at all?
Weiser: It comes to mind because it was a while ago and I was out injured for a while – five months specifically. I don’t have any fears because of the injury though. 

herthabsc.de: For you it’s about qualifying for the Europa League automatically. Is there anything that gives you optimism on the matter? 
Weiser: That we have two home-games left to play (laughs). As I said, the quality and depth of the squad only improves as more players return to full fitness. It’s clear that we have to play good football in order to pick up points, and things didn’t quite go to plan in Bremen. We have to be more of a threat in front of goal and play more creatively – that goes for all of us. We can win each of our remaining three games. 

herthabsc.de: The game could prove decisive for Leipzig too: a win would see the club achieve direct qualification for the Champions League – as a club who have just been promoted. How will you stop the Saxony side? 
Weiser: Leipzig are a team with a lot of pace, but if we play smart and with our heads up, we can beat them. We can’t play with any fear whatsoever, especially of being hit on the counter. We have no reason to be scared when we’re playing at home – which might be the problem when we have played away recently. We have to know that the ball is our friend and try to make our mark on the game – a cliché it may be (laughs).