Save FCZ and resign
Dzemaili starts his last mission as a captain
FCZ captain again after 14 years: For the first time since his return, Blerim Dzemaili starts the second half of the season with a bandage. The club legend is fit for his last big goal: bring Zurich out of the table basement.
Published: 20 minutes ago
1/11
Bandage on the arm: Blerim Dzemaili (r., in the test against Wil) takes over the captaincy from goalie Yanick Brecher during the injury break.
Matthew Dubachreporter sports
Actually, Blerim Dzemaili (36) has experienced everything in the two years since he returned to FCZ. Nevertheless, there will be a premiere on Saturday in Lucerne: the club legend leads the Zurich team to the field for the first time as a routine captain because of the injury to keeper Yanick Brecher.
When Dzemaili last started in the Super League and wore the bandage, he was still an FCZ youngster: it was 5,886 days ago in December 2006 against Sion. “Representing FCZ, then also as captain, is always something big for me,” says the midfielder, “even if the bandage is secondary. It is important that you move forward as a personality.”
FCZ veteran indicates resignation if he stays in the league
Dzemaili recovered from his minor injuries from the preliminary round during the winter break and, as a fit captain, is going on his last mission as an active player: In the second phase of the championship, bring champions Zurich to the bottom of the relegation battle after the deep fall – save the FCZ and then resign.
Dzemaili does not formulate it in such an ultimate way that he will definitely end his great career in the summer. “At the moment the chances are 50:50,” he says, adding: “Physically, it wouldn’t be a problem at the moment. But it’s mental. As a footballer, I have a fantastic life. Nevertheless, after 21 years at the highest level, you keep thinking about how long you want to go without free weekends with your family.”
After the resignation of Lucerne’s Christian Gentner (37), Dzemaili is now the third oldest player in the league after Servette star oldie Gaël Clichy (37) and Sion newcomer Reto Ziegler (since Monday 37).
A class better without the European Cup?
Dzemaili, the eternal professional: “I still have fun in every training session.” Even if, like this week, you train on the unloved artificial turf because of the snow? “I like the snow better in the mountains… On the artificial turf I just have to dose it and I’m always talking to the trainer.”
Coach Bo Henriksen, who was hired in October, has now been able to work intensively with the team during the winter break. The test matches in January are good as an encouragement for the relegation battle. And at FCZ everyone agrees that the team without the European Cup load is a class better than the table shows.
Dzemaili: «We worked a lot, also on the team spirit. The many training sessions have welded us together again. We missed the latter in the first few months. There were many changes, there were discussions. But now everyone has found their role again.”
It is an open secret that the FCZ veteran never really got to know Franco Foda, the successor to Breitenreiter. Now he says diplomatically: “You saw with André what makes a coach. His successor did not fit well with FCZ at this point in time.”
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