Bremen – Nine goals this season, plus four assists – Marvin Ducksch (27) is undoubtedly one of the most conspicuous players in the second division season so far and has quickly won the hearts of SV Werder Bremen fans. Before things get serious again on Saturday against Fortuna Düsseldorf, the striker took a lot of time for an interview with the DeichStube. The result was a very personal conversation about ash pitches in the Ruhr area, a brother in prison and playing soccer with your own son.
Mr Ducksch, the following situation: you come from a good position, the stadium is already getting ready for the goal celebration – but you miss the chance. What is going on inside you at a moment like this?
Phew, at first I’m a bit down and frustrated, of course, I think for a moment: “Shit, what did I just do here?” But then it goes on. There’s just no point worrying too much about missed opportunities. In the next moment, the next one can already arise, and I’ll put that in then.
But there are also strikers who really despair after missing big chances. Why are you so good at putting up with it?
To be honest, I’ve had the problem for a while that I need a lot of chances to score. Unfortunately, I’m not one to use four out of three options. I often miss two or three before I score. I work every day to make it better. But at least I know that now and I know: If the first one wasn’t there, then the next one will definitely be there.
It’s strange: They’ve scored in double digits in the 2nd division for years, but some observers still consider them a death chance. Is that fair?
Oh, I’ve stopped listening to what people on the outside say. I know what I can do, where my strengths and weaknesses lie. I’m just happy that I regularly get good final positions. I have no idea what ultimately counts towards the chance death statistic and what doesn’t.
Werder Bremen striker Marvin Ducksch: “The moment of scoring goals is a great feeling of happiness that you always want more of”
Werder legend Diego once said: “Scoring a goal and celebrating is like an orgasm”. How would you describe the moment?
(laughs) It’s really hard to say! Diego played in a different position than me and maybe didn’t score as many goals. So it was all the better for him. Anyway, I can’t say it’s like an orgasm. But the moment is breathtaking, of course even more so when there are fans in the stadium. That’s just great! A feeling of happiness that you always want more of.
Looking at your CV, it is clear that football played a central role from the start. What is your earliest memory of this sport?
My father, now. He was also a very good kicker back then and could have played higher, but he chose to play with friends and family. Ever since I was three years old I have always taken him to the pitch and seen him play. For BSV Fortuna Dortmund, the small club in our district. At some point he was my coach when I was young. It was really a very nice time. He taught me a lot.
Now soccer is your job. What else does sport mean to you today?
Very much. I turned my hobby into my job and didn’t want anything else from a very early age. I put everything on one card, I really wanted to become a professional, also to give something back to my family. As I said, Dad took a different route. It was also his wish that I fulfill his dream. I did this. I play for my family.
Was there ever a time when you hated football?
Didn’t hate, I never hated football. But there was a point in time when I said: “Now I’ll stop”. I was in a really nasty situation. I was really bad. When I returned to Borussia Dortmund after being loaned to Paderborn, I practically had to beg to be allowed to keep fit in the second team. Luckily there was a coach in David Wagner who already knew me and gave me the chance. Then came Daniel Farke, who also backed me. That showed me that the way is the right one and that quitting is not an option for me.
Werder Bremen striker Marvin Ducksch: “I did nothing but stand on the football field”
You were born in Dortmund in 1994 and grew up in the middle of the Ruhr area. What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about your childhood?
The first thing that always comes to my mind is our soccer field. I didn’t do anything other than stand on this spot. We had street teams back then. It was always about asserting yourself on the pitch. The winners were allowed to stay, the losers had to go down. I got this unconditional will to win from there. You can learn a lot on ashes.
Over the holidays, many professional footballers have published photos of glittering Christmas trees or holiday beaches on Instagram. You, on the other hand, one of you and your family, recorded in your parents’ living room. How important is authenticity to you?
That’s just me I don’t pretend. If I show something of myself, then it is the way it really is. I don’t take 18 photos to choose the best one. I take what is made. Ready. It will always be like that.
In the picture it looked like a harmonious Christmas Eve.
Definitive. We don’t get together with the family that often, but when we do, it’s always nice. At Christmas there was red cabbage with roulades. Dad is our cook. I don’t know how he got it, but he’s really good at it.
Not in the photo is your older brother, whom you reported a few years ago for being involved in fraud. As a result, he was imprisoned for several years. How is your relationship today?
It’s very good again. I’m a person who doesn’t hold grudges. He made a mistake and has apologized for it several times. We have spoken out. He’s still part of the family.
Marvin Ducksch didn’t need any warm-up time after moving to Werder Bremen: “I was in the flow”
The ad was a drastic step that you probably didn’t take lightly. What made her act like this? And have you ever regretted the decision?
Yes, of course, I’ve regretted it before. He’s missed a few years of his life. But I think it helped him. He was in a difficult position. If he was just cheating on me I could have taken it, but there were several people involved. At some point that was too much. But now the whole thing is settled.
They were Werder’s king transfer in the summer and hit the ground running straight away. Why did you need practically no start-up time at all?
I was in the flow, had already played for Hannover on the first match days. I was also familiar with the game system used by Markus Beginning from Kiel and knew how to move. That’s why it was relatively easy for me to start.
Keyword Markus Beginning: Your ex-trainer has now confessed to having used a fake vaccination certificate, which put you in danger, among other things. Can you forgive him for that?
This is a very difficult subject. I’m sure he has his reasons for not getting vaccinated. You have to respect that. I think he knows that he made a mistake with the vaccination card. We haven’t spoken to each other yet. He’s in a difficult phase. I just want to leave him alone. When everything has calmed down a bit, I think we’ll talk on the phone again.
Werder Bremen star Marvin Ducksch on the birth of his son: “It’s nicer than anything”
Jumping the subject to something much more pleasing: You have been a father for two years. How have you changed since the birth of your son?
Wow, in many areas. When I held him in my arms for the first time, the feeling was just indescribable. Honestly, I can’t describe it because nothing compares to it. It’s prettier than anything! He definitely made me grow up. I matured because of him.
Your son lives with your former partner in Kiel. How often do you see him?
I drive up as often as I can and actually see him every week. I was with him on Monday and have recharged my batteries.
Would you advise him to become a professional soccer player later on?
So I’m definitely not going to push him in that direction. If he ever has the plan, I’ll tell him what to expect. What kind of life he could have, but what he also has to do without. Then he decides what he wants to do. But at the moment he’s more about diggers than balls (laughs). But on Monday, when I was with him, he said for the first time: “Dad, get dressed, go out, football”. It was already dark, but of course we went straight to the soccer field. (dco)
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