Jentzsch: "Summer, sun and beaches!"

Only another two days, and then the Wolves skipper Simon Jentzsch will be able to go on his long-awaited summer holiday. Before he jets off to sunnier climbs, Jentzsch has another Captain’s Corner interview with this website to do. In the final feature before the break, he looks back on what has been a turbulent season: "Lots of things have happened that shouldn’t have, we have to put the season behind us and look to the future" admits the goalie. Jentzsch also thanks the fans for their support this season.

vfl-wolfsburg.de: Simon,how are you following your knee surgery last week?

Simon Jentzsch: I’m fine thanks and can walk normally again, even though the knee is still swollen. It will take some time to heal, but I’m exercising every day and reckon that I will be fit again pretty soon. I’m sure I’ll be fit in time when training for next season resumes.

After the first half hour of the final match of the season away to Bielefeld, it appeared that the Wolves would blow their final chance of reaching the Intertoto Cup. They somehow pulled the game around and saved the day. Did you doubt that they would manage to save the game?

Simon Jentzsch: We have shown in previous games away from home that we are capable of being solid at the back. The potential was always there so I’m not surprised that we were able to win in Bielefeld. We played poorly during the first half hour, but we dominated them after finding our form again.

André Lenz was in goal in Bielefeld, how did he do in your opinion?

Simon Jentzsch: I never usually comment on the performances of team mates, but I think he did his job well.

The season ended for the Wolves as it had begun…with an away win. How did you see the 2004/5 season as a whole?

Simon Jentzsch: I am disappointed that we were unable to reproduce our form of the first half of the season in the second half. Several things happened which shouldn’t have. There were many negative things in the press about the club, and we had hoped to avoid that. It is a shame that we lost the plot at the winter break. It is up to us now to put this season behind us and look to the future. We should use our summer holiday to reflect on where we went wrong, and what we can do better next season.

Which team or coach surprised you this season?

Simon Jentzsch: Mainz and Bielefeld stayed in the Bundesliga, which was a pleasant surprise after they were favourites to go down. Respect to Borussia Dortmund, who played a fabulous second half of the season despite all the turbulence at the club. Hertha’s Yildiray Bastürk had an amazing first season there.

After the training camp stay in Holland, you go on holiday. Will you be travelling far?

Simon Jentzsch: I’m going somewhere where there is summer, sun and beaches.

Simon, your weekly Captain's Corner feature has been voted the moist popular feature on the Wolfsburg homepage by the Wolves fans. Is there anything that the Wolves skipper would like to say to the fans?

Simon Jentzsch: I would like to thank them all for their mavellous support all season. We had several positive moments before the winter break, but also negative ones after that. Our fans stood by us through thick and thin, and I promise them that next season we will be pulling out all the stops in order to bring success to the club. In order to achieve that goal, we need the support of our 12th man…our fans.

Which goal are you hoping to reach with the Wolves next season?

Simon Jentzsch: I hope that we can gain more points than we did last season, and move closer to European football. We would like to use the opportunity of playing in the Intertoto Cup to reach the UEFA Cup.

Simon, many thanks for your honest answers. We hope you have a great holiday and look forward to our next interview with you in June!