Wöber about the World Cup exit: “There were a lot of tears shed”

The high was followed by several lows, three muscle injuriesa year to forget Werder Bremen and finally the end of the World Cup. “There were a lot of tears shed,” admits Wöber. The World Cup is his big one Motivator been this season with lots of extra shifts and comeback attempts. The last one ended in a game in Hoffenheim. “I came on as a substitute and my first action was a long throw-in. And right from that throw-in I got a stab in the groin.”

The following diagnosis finally closed the door to the World Cup. But now Maximilian Wöber is no longer with Werder Bremen, but with Schalke 04. And lo and behold: In Gelsenkirchen he found his way back to his old fitness. “The medical department did a great job of building me up. I have 100 percent confidence in my body again – and that wasn’t easy to get.”

“Can turn your head off”

Now, says Wöber, he no longer needs to think about whether he is training too much or too little. “I can turn off my head and concentrate on what’s important.” He also asked himself “whether my body would still hold up and whether I could still play football at this level.”

The negative thoughts are now gone. And you notice that when you see Wöber playing. So far it’s only been available at Schalke Bets as jokersbut one moment was special. Against Union Berlin, he sprinted all over the pitch during injury time during his team’s counterattack and scored the goal to make the final score 3-1.

High standing in the team

At this point at the latest it was clear that Maximilian Wöber would be part of the national team again. The standing of the left footer among the team and team boss was always high.

In the current upheaval it is equal to Lead player asked. “We sat down as a team, without a coaching team, and worked through things that we need to work on again.”

And these are the virtues that Austria has stood for for years under Ralf Rangnick and of which the players are also convinced. “We have to get back to the intensity we need for our game in every game.” Opponent Israel will feel this on Thursday. Maybe also by Maximilian Wöber.