Kruse expresses regret over leaving Union and predicts top-four-finish for old club
Speaking on Germany's famed Sunday footballing roundtable "Doppelpass", Max Kruse expressed regret at having moved to VfL Wolfsburg last January and discussed the current state of his efforts to find a new club.
Kruse also declared himself a believer in a top-four-finish for his old colleagues from Berlin's Köpenick district. The 34-year-old offered up some details on why this would come to pass.
Kruse also declared himself a believer in a top-four-finish for his old colleagues from Berlin's Köpenick district. The 34-year-old offered up some details on why this would come to pass.
| Max Kruse. | Photo: © Superbass / CC-by-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons) |
"In talking to clubs, it wasn't the sporting side of things that determined things," Kruse said on the air of German broadcaster "Sport1", "Several of them were afraid to make the move. My sporting abilities aren't in doubt. I would like to play in the Bundesliga again, though it would be interesting to play in the U.S. or Canada. We'll see what, if anything, happens."
Kruse did not name any specific German clubs that might be interested in picking him up as a free-agent. In terms of American clubs (Kruse continues to be linked with them), a transfer would need to be concluded by March. The German youth international and Olympic representative did not go into specifics in that area either. He did, however, directly answer questions about his controversial move from 1. FC Union Berlin to Wolfsburg last January and talked about his old club.
"I was 33 last year." Kruse noted, "I couldn't turn down that offer. A year later, it's easy to say: the switch was total shit. Of course, it didn't end positively for me."
Asked to rate his former side's prospects of competing for the Bundesliga title - a hot topic in German football following Union's 2-1 win over Leipzig last night - Kruse predicted a top-four finish for die Eisernen.
"I don't know if it will be enough for a title in the end. But I'm sure it will be at least the Champions League," Kruse said, "Nothing will unsettle Union. That's their greatest strength. No player is above the club. They don't have a €5-million-earning star."
"Packs of them go out to eat together," Kruse continued, "That simply doesn't exists at other clubs. The atmosphere [at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei] resembles that of fifth division clubs. It's all very unique."
