In the past two years, Senne Lynen has carved out a place for himself in SV Weder Bremen’s starting XI. Now, the Belgian has decided to extend his contract and continue his journey at SVW. In this interview, the 26-year-old speaks about how much his family means to him, his goals for the new season and the reasons why he opted for a contract extension.
WERDER.DE: Hi Senne, in the friendly at the weekend, your wife and daughter were in the stands cheering you on? How comfortable do you feel in Bremen?
Senne Lynen: We’ve all settled in well over the past two years and feel at home. The friendly didn’t take place too far away, which is why they came along. We’re really happy here.
WERDER.DE: You’ve chosen to extend your contract with Werder. How important was the fact that you feel at home here in Bremen?
Senne Lynen: It played a huge role. When I come home from training and also in general, my family is the most important thing for me in my life. If they’re not happy, nothing else matters to me. That’s why it’s actually the most important factor.
WERDER.DE: From a sporting perspective, you’re playing under a new head coach in Horst Steffen. What are your first impressions of him?
Senne Lynen: Very good. Everything he says and wants to convey to the group is clear and considerate. I think that it’s going to work out well and am looking forward to the new season.
I’m very emotional on the pitch, since goals decide games.
WERDER.DE: Was it also important for you to get to know the head coach first before you signed a new contract in Bremen?
Senne Lynen: Actually, no. I had a lot of faith that the club would make a good decision when appointing a new head coach. That’s why it wasn’t an issue for me.
WERDER.DE: Could you say what has changed for you as a side so far?
Senne Lynen: A lot already. Tactically, there are some new ideas, and a couple of other things on the pitch are different. But I think it’s good that there’s a breath of fresh air.
WERDER.DE: In the past few days, a couple of the players have picked up injuries. Mitchell Weiser has torn his ACl, for instance. How did you, as a team, deal with that message?
Senne Lynen: It was a shock for all of us. I also tore my ACL five years ago and I had a sense of déjà-vu that I didn’t want to relive. I feel really bad for him. I hope the surgery goes well and that his rehabilitation starts smoothly.
WERDER.DE: You’re set for what will be your third season with SV Werder. What goals have you set for the upcoming campaign?
Senne Lynen: I want to progress as far as possible in the cup, as we were did pretty well last season. I want to reach the final someday. We have to manage to start the league season off strongly, because we’re up against five tough teams to start. We’ll have to see where we end up finishing, and hopefully we’ll do even better than last year.
WERDER.DE: We’ve noticed that you really enjoy celebrating when the team scores! Have you already chosen your own goal celebrations, for when you score your first goal for Werder?
Senne Lynen: No (laughs). I’m pretty emotional out on the pitch, because goals are what decide a game, which is why I’m always involved in the celebrations. I don’t know yet what I’ll do to celebrate. It’s definitely an aim I’ve set for myself, to score a goal.
WERDER.DE: Your wife is expecting your second child in October. How excited are you for everything that’s still to come over the next weeks and months?
Senne Lynen: Extremely, extremely excited. I’m very happy about it. Our first child is a girl, so I’m excited to soon welcome our son to the world. It’s fantastic and hopefully everything goes well.
WERDER.DE: All the best to you and your family. Thanks for speaking with us, Senne!
