Union Berlin
“It feels like a million rolls”: Ex-player Lenz tells crazy Nutella anecdotes about Max Kruse
Max Kruse near Wolfsburg. At Union Berlin, he caused a stir among the players with a Nutella party.
© firo Sportphoto/Christian Kaspar-Bartke/ / Picture Alliance
Nutella and high-performance sport – can they go together? Not really, one would assume. But things are different for Max Kruse, as his ex-teammate Christopher Lenz has now revealed.
During his time at Union Berlin, striker Max Kruse scored a number of goals and points. It was the same with the 3-1 victory of the Irons at TSG Hoffenheim in early November 2020, Max Kruse was involved in all three goals.
What hardly anyone should have noticed: Max Kruse was not completely “sober” in the game, as his ex-teammate Christopher Lenz (now Eintracht Frankfurt) revealed in an interview with “Sport Bild”. Before the considerable success, Kruse ate what felt like a million Nutella rolls at lunch.
Max Kruse: Involved in three goals despite Nutella belly
“No other player would be able to run two kilometers with his stomach,” said Lenz and marveled that Kruse scored a goal, prepared two more and decided the game. “These are memories that stay,” explained the left-back and added: “He said to the young players at the dinner table with a wink: ‘Don’t just look at me. Not everyone can do what I can do.'”
For Lenz, the anecdote was very important for the team. “You always need guys like him who are a bit crazy and always in a good mood, even if there’s no sunshine for what feels like 16 weeks in winter,” he said, adding: “Extroverted players pull their team-mates up when they’re on the ground If everyone was equal, it would be very boring in the dressing room and there would be no team spirit.”
Max Kruse returned to Wolfsburg from Union Berlin
He played in the capital with Kruse for a year before moving to Frankfurt. Kruse stayed for another six months and is now under contract with VfL Wolfsburg.
A logical step, says Lenz: “It was surprising for me, but for him it was probably the best thing he could do. Max isn’t 23 anymore, so I understand him when he signs another big contract.” Kruse justified his move afterwards with the financial aspect and disagreements with coach Urs Fischer.