Niclas Füllkrug has defended his summer return to Werder Bremen against public criticism. The 33-year-old striker specifically responded to comments from former Werder professional Mario Basler, as a report from sport.de outlined this week.
The club started the new Bundesliga season with a defeat and sits in 15th place ahead of the next matchday. With zero points from one game and a goal difference of 1:4, Werder is three points behind leaders Bayern Munich. The next opportunity to earn points comes with the home match against third-placed RB Leipzig on September 5, 2026.
Why did Füllkrug return to Werder Bremen?
Niclas Füllkrug emphasized the special value that SV Werder Bremen holds for him personally. After spells at bigger clubs, including six months at AC Milan and a period in England, the forward sees a unique opportunity in Bremen. "Werder can offer me something no other club can," Füllkrug said verbatim. He does not take the critical comments from Mario Basler personally but pointed to the circumstances of his transfer.
The experienced player returned from Milan without a loan fee, a fact he cites as an argument for the deal's logic. Füllkrug sees a clear advantage in the club already knowing him well. In the last year and a half to two years, he did not have a guaranteed starting position at Milan or previously in England, which further motivated his return.
What role does Füllkrug aim for in the team?
The national team player with 24 caps for Germany has clear ideas about his function. He wants to take on a leadership role in the squad and contribute to stability. Füllkrug referred to the successful example of Claudio Pizarro, who also returned to Werder Bremen after spells at major European clubs and delivered important performances there.
He is convinced that experienced players can positively influence the attitude across the entire squad. For the current season, Füllkrug desires an axis of seasoned professionals to give the team solidity. His goal is to support younger players with his experience while also delivering on the pitch. The current squad list shows several young talents who could benefit from such leadership.
How did Füllkrug respond to criticism of Clemens Fritz?
Niclas Füllkrug became particularly clear when addressing criticism of Werder Bremen's sporting director Clemens Fritz. He defended the long-time club representative decisively. "Clemens lives and loves Werder, he does everything for the club," the striker emphasized. Fritz demonstrates this attitude even under difficult framework conditions the club must manage financially and sportingly.
Füllkrug considers the public criticism of the sporting director's work unfair. It contradicts the values of integration and respect for which SV Werder Bremen traditionally stands. The attacker made clear that he supports the club's management and backs their decisions. This clear positioning underscores Füllkrug's ambition to take responsibility off the pitch as well.
What does the return mean for the current season?
The move to bring back Niclas Füllkrug triggered mixed reactions among fans. Alongside genuine excitement, there was also skepticism about whether the 33-year-old still possesses the necessary impact for the Bundesliga. The sport.de report described the transfer as a real bombshell during the summer break. For Werder Bremen, the signing represents a certain risk the club is taking.
Füllkrug himself sees his task clearly ahead. He aims to contribute with goals and experience to help Werder overcome the difficult start to the season. The first match of the season was lost, but the next challenge already awaits with the home game against RB Leipzig. All upcoming fixtures can be found on the fixtures calendar. For Niclas Füllkrug, the task now begins to translate his words into actions on the Weserstadion pitch.
