Never say die for Nowotny

By Mark Bennett

Defender Jens Nowotny has had good reason to consider himself unlucky. A cruciate injury sustained during Bayer 04 Leverkusen's UEFA Champions League semi-final win against Manchester United on 30 April 2002 saw him miss his side's 2-1 defeat against Real Madrid CF in the final.

Personal disaster
Returning to action after a long lay-off in a Bundesliga game against FC Energie Cottbus on 26 January 2003, the team captain had barely got back into his stride when he felt his cruciate ligament go again. With Leverkusen struggling and Germany eager to welcome the experienced libero back, it was a disaster.

'A horrible blow'
"This is a horrible blow for Jens," said Germany coach Rudi Völler at the time. "It is very tragic that this has happened twice in such a short period of time. However, I believe Jens has got the will and the courage to come back again. We will all help him."

Crucial games
Perhaps significantly, Nowotny's absence coincided with one of the most difficult periods in Leverkusen's recent history. He was absent as former coach Klaus Toppmöller's side lost out on the German championship, German Cup and the European Champion Clubs' Cup in the space of a few weeks in 2002.

Awful season
He remained out of action as the team mockingly nicknamed 'Neverkusen' endured a dreadful season in 2002/03, flirting with relegation to the 2. Bundesliga as first Toppmöller and then his replacement Thomas Hörster were dismissed before Klaus Augenthaler took control in May.

Back in business
Now, with Leverkusen having endured the worst, Nowotny is close to returning and tellingly, as they top the Bundesliga, his side are on the up. The defender made his return to the pitch at the end of August, playing the final three minutes of a 3-1 German Cup win against KSV Holstein Kiel.

Nowotny overjoyed
"It is great to be back and I am really enjoying being around the lads," said the defender. "I want to help the side finish in the top five in the Bundesliga so that we will be back in Europe next year."

On the fringe
Nowotny's recovery campaign continued as he joined another stricken defender, Ingo Hertzsch, playing in the Leverkusen reserve team. More recently, he has been on the bench in first-team games and is even rumoured to be starting Saturday's league tie at VfL Wolfsburg.

Mind games
All of which has been a slap in the face for those who suggested that his career was over. "Football is played in the head mainly and I know that everything is OK again," Nowotny said. However, coach Augenthaler is certainly not fast-tracking him back into action. "I will not take any risks," he said.

Portuguese dream
Nowotny, meanwhile, is determined to add to his 37 caps for Germany." It was hard missing the [FIFA] World Cup and I know that I will have to perform well at Leverkusen before thinking of the national team again, but don't count me out," he said. "I want to be in the [UEFA] EURO 2004™ squad and will do everything I can to make it."

Leverkusen challenge
His first problem will be getting back into the Leverkusen team with Swedish international Teddy Lucic, Brazilian internationals Juan and Lucio and former German international Hertzsch all competing for the two available places in central defence.

Supreme skills
Nowotny, however, has no doubt that he will make it. "I don't think that there is any way around me when I am fully fit," he insisted. His luck may have failed him, but his skills rarely did.