Robert Andrich Confident in Future at Club
Robert Andrich isn’t packing his bags any time soon.
The midfielder, speaking to Kicker.de, acknowledged the swirl of rumours around his future but made it clear he sees no reason to leave while he feels trusted and important at the club.
"Of course, I pick up on it through a few channels," he said of the transfer talk. "But externally it's not just about me being talked about, but also about others. As long as I don't have the feeling that the club wants to get rid of me – and I don't have that feeling right now – I don't concern myself with a transfer."
That line cuts through the noise. No flirting with the market, no open door. His stance is simple: as long as the club values him, he stays.
Captaincy question, calm answer
The armband is another hot topic. Andrich has worn it recently, as has Edmond Tapsoba, and with a new coach in place the hierarchy could, in theory, be up for debate.
Andrich, though, treats it with the same steady tone.
"I see myself as number one as soon as I'm confirmed in that role," he said. "Of course, I'm assuming for now that I'll remain captain. I haven't heard anything else yet. But until nothing is officially communicated, anything can still happen. Eddy [Tapsoba] and I have worn the armband last – it could be decided between us."
No grandstanding, no demands. Just a clear belief he remains first in line unless told otherwise, and an acceptance that the final call might come down to him or Tapsoba.
From chaos to calm under Carles Martinez Novell
His words land at a club that has only just started to breathe again.
Since Xabi Alonso’s departure, the dugout has been a revolving door. Erik ten Hag lasted three matches before being replaced by Kasper Hjulmand, who has already moved on as well. That kind of churn seeps into every corner of a dressing room: tactics change, roles shift, certainty evaporates.
Under new manager Carles Martinez Novell, the mood has changed. The atmosphere in the Werkself dressing room is described as far more settled than during last summer’s upheaval. Players know where they stand. The constant tension has eased.
Andrich feels that shift clearly.
"We currently have a very good atmosphere in the team; there's no unrest like there was last summer, when there were so many changes," he explained. "In difficult phases, we need to stick together more in the future – and put ourselves in a position to simply strike back after 15, 20 tough minutes."
That is the crux of his message: stability is back, but resilience still has to be built. The captain-in-waiting wants a side that doesn’t crumble when the game tilts against them, but one that bites back – quickly.
