Interview | “The most complete Manuel Filehner of all time”

Interview | “The most complete Manuel Filehner of all time”

Things are going well for Manuel Filehner and his club Catanzaro, where the signee has been under contract since this season. SportNews spoke to the former FC Südtirol striker and asked: Is this the best fisherman of all time?

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In the summer of 2018, Manuel Filehner moved to Calabria after a good season at Alessandria (11 goals). The South Tyrolean has been a top performer at Catanzaro ever since, has scored eleven times in 28 games so far this season and is in third place with Catanzaro in Group C of Serie C. In the league he is the second best goalscorer in the league after Eugenio D'Ursi. Giallorossi”.

Interview by Christian Staffler

SportNews: Manuel, sports are going great in Catanzaro. Are we currently experiencing the best Manuel Filehner of his career so far?

Fischlerler: “It’s always difficult to say. Things were going very well at FC Südtirol back then (16 league goals; editor's note). But I was younger and had much less experience. Over time I have learned a lot of things that you can't do at the age of 20. For example, reading a game. I'm not saying it's currently the best fishing game of all time, but it's certainly the most complete.

9 league goals, 2 in the cup and 5 assists: your sporting record is strong...

“I feel good physically and am perfectly integrated tactically into our game system. Unfortunately, an ankle injury set me back a bit. I was out for a month, but now after the comeback things are going well again.”

You mention the tactical system. What does this and your role in it look like?

“We play a very attacking 3-4-3 system and I am one of the three strikers. I usually start as a left winger, but we move around a lot over the course of a game. We don't have static roles and can be found sometimes on the right, sometimes on the left and sometimes in the center. I think that fits my strengths very well.”

“I can’t take the ball, dribble past the entire defense and then score a goal.” Manuel Fischnitzer about his playing style

What are your strengths?

“The runs without the ball at my feet are what define me. I'm not a striker who gets the ball in midfield, dribbles past the defense and then scores a goal. I need the ball, then give it back, start forward and hope that I get it back in front of the goal. When I'm in good physical shape, I perform well and get scoring opportunities and goals. I’m in good shape at the moment, I hope it stays that way.”

Catanzaro is in 3rd place in the table. However, they are already 10 points behind Juve Stabia and surrounded by teams like Catania and Trapani. What are the goals?

“We still have Matera (3 fixed points because they were excluded from the championship; editor’s note) and one game less than Juve Stabia. Maybe it's unrealistic that we can still become champions. But mathematically it's still there and I firmly believe in it. Anything is always possible in football. Two years ago with Alessandria we were 12 points ahead in February and still lost the championship. Things ended badly back then and I hope things turn out well for me this year.”

You often hear about the “hot” southern Italy, which lives football much more than the northern Italians. How is it in Catanzaro?

That's true, the city lives football here too. There is a lot of enthusiasm. When I walk through the city, people recognize me and talk to me. That's not the case in the north, where people are more reserved. I also have a good standing with the audience. That's just how it is with us footballers: When things go well, you're happy. If not, then it's difficult.

“My best years are now or are yet to come.” Manuel Fischnitzer on the Serie B goal

How big are the differences between Serie C in the north and in the south?

“There is a difference in the way they play, I noticed that. In the north, the teams that are weak on paper like to just put themselves at the back. For example, if Gubbio plays against FC Südtirol, then they are happy with a point. But if Paganese comes to Catanzaro, then they want to win away too.”

You have already played with Reggina in Serie B for two years. Do you want to come back to this league again?

“I am now 27 years old and my best years are now or are yet to come. I want to do well this year, even though I know that it's easier to get into Serie B as a young player. I think I can play well in Serie B and hope that there is a club that believes in me. But maybe we’ll get promoted to Serie B with Catanzaro, because sometimes that’s the easier way to get up.”

From Ritten to Catanzaro, that's a nice stretch. What is life like in Calabria?

“In terms of life, of course, it’s completely different. But it has to be said that we footballers spend most of our time training or at home. There isn't much more. I live in Soverato, about 20 kilometers from Catanzaro. It's a small tourist town with a nice beach where I like to walk when the weather is nice. I live here with my girlfriend and surrounded by a few teammates. I am often asked whether I prefer the sea or the mountains. And I like the mountains more and more. I would never exchange the South Tyrolean mountains for anything (laughs).”

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