“ Jena Captain Merza Julevic: "Quality Has Increased Significantly”

• by Lauren Casey
• IMAGO - PHOTO
• JAN 17 2025
  

Merza Julevic, the experienced midfielder and captain of FC Carl Zeiss Jena, has been a stalwart in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga for over 17 years. At 34, she continues to lead the team in their first season back in the league, aiming to secure survival in Germany’s top division. In an interview with DFB.de, Julevic spoke candidly about the team's progress, the challenges they face, and her own journey in football.

Looking Ahead: Staying in the League

Although Jena is yet to secure a win this season, the team remains in a non-relegation position as they head into the winter break. Despite mixed results, Julevic is optimistic. “We’ve had some strong performances, and even though we’re the youngest team in the league, we’ve deserved more points,” she said. “We’re content with our position right now, but we know there’s work to be done.”

Julevic believes the key to staying in the league lies in maintaining their current standing, despite the competition’s pressure. “It’s our goal to stay in the league, and I see good chances of us achieving that based on our development,” she added.

With teams like 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam and 1. FC Köln battling at the bottom of the table, Julevic knows the final matches will be crucial. “The games against Potsdam and Köln will be decisive, but we won’t just rely on those,” she emphasized. “We aim to get points from other games as well.”

Facing Hoffenheim with Determination

Looking ahead to their catch-up match against TSG Hoffenheim on January 26, Julevic is hopeful despite the odds. “We’re underdogs, but we will give it our all. Hoffenheim is also under pressure, and their season hasn’t gone as planned,” she said, expressing her belief that the match could offer unexpected results.

Areas for Improvement

While the team’s defense has been solid, Julevic acknowledges that improvements are needed in attack. With only three goals in eleven matches, Jena’s offensive struggles are clear. “We’ve been good defensively, but we need to score more goals,” she said. “We’ve conceded goals from set pieces, which is another area we need to work on.”

Training has already focused on improving both attacking play and set-piece strategies. “It’s tough with the weather conditions right now, but we’re making the best of it,” Julevic explained.

Still Going Strong at 34

At 34, Julevic continues to perform at a high level, having started all eleven matches this season. Despite the rise in quality within the league, she feels her performances have been solid but recognizes there’s still room for improvement. “The quality of the league has increased significantly since I last played in the Bundesliga,” she said. “I think my performances have been okay, but there’s always room for improvement.”

While Julevic has yet to score this season, she remains determined. “As a number six, my focus is more on defense, but I’ve had a few chances, particularly from set pieces,” she said. “I’m confident I’ll become more dangerous in front of goal as the season progresses.”

A Mentor on and off the Pitch

Julevic, who will turn 35 in April, is one of the oldest players in the squad, with most of her teammates much younger. However, she doesn’t see herself as the team’s “grandmother.” “As captain, I want to lead by example and inspire my teammates,” she said. Her experience has been invaluable to the team, and her leadership is evident both on and off the pitch.

Maintaining her physical condition is also a priority for Julevic, who credits her success to staying in good shape and avoiding injuries. “I don’t have a specific recipe, but I keep myself in good shape, and fortunately, I’ve been injury-free,” she said. “Taking a two-year break from football probably helped, too—I still have a bit more in the tank.”

A New Perspective After a Break

Reflecting on her time away from football, Julevic acknowledges the importance of maintaining a healthy perspective. “I know there are more important things than football,” she said. “But the break also showed me how much I missed being on the pitch. Now, I’m grateful for every game I get to play.”

Looking Ahead: What Staying in the League Means for Jena

Staying in the Bundesliga would be a huge accomplishment for FC Carl Zeiss Jena, especially as the league will expand to 14 teams next season. Julevic believes the club’s young squad has the potential to continue improving. “We have a lot of young players with great potential, and I’m confident about the future,” she said. “Staying in the league would be huge for the club and its development.”

Future Plans

As for her own future, Julevic is focused on the task at hand: securing Jena’s place in the Bundesliga. “For now, my focus is on staying in the league and giving strong performances. I’ll make my decision about the future with the club in due course,” she concluded.

Julevic’s leadership and experience will be vital as FC Carl Zeiss Jena continues its fight for survival in Germany’s top women’s football division. With determination and a positive mindset, Julevic is committed to helping her team stay in the league and achieve their goals for the season.

Current Standings:

As the second half kicks off, every match presents an opportunity for teams to alter their destiny. The upcoming fixtures are set to bring drama, surprises, and decisive moments in the race for the title, European spots, and relegation survival.

Place	Team	SP	G	U	V	Goals	Diff.	Points
1	Eintracht Frankfurt	12	9	2	1	38:5	33	29
2	Bayern Munich	12	9	2	1	33:10	23	29
3	VfL Wolfsburg	12	9	1	2	30:10	20	28
4	Bayer 04 Leverkusen	11	8	2	1	19:8	11	26
5	SC Freiburg	11	6	2	3	19:17	2	20
6	RB Leipzig	12	6	1	5	18:22	-4	19
7	SV Werder Bremen	12	5	2	5	14:18	-4	17
8	TSG Hoffenheim	11	5	0	6	18:18	0	15
9	SGS Essen	12	2	2	8	9:16	-7	8
10	1. FC Köln	12	1	2	9	10:34	-24	5
11	FC Carl Zeiss Jena	11	0	3	8	3:20	-17	3
12	Turbine Potsdam	12	0	1	11	1:34	-33	1

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耶拿队长梅尔扎·尤列维奇：“联赛质量显著提升”

FC卡尔蔡司耶拿经验丰富的中场球员兼队长梅尔扎·尤列维奇在谷歌 Pixel女子德甲联赛中征战了17年之久。现年34岁的她在球队重返顶级联赛的首个赛季中继续带领球队，目标是在德国顶级联赛 中保级。在接受DFB.de的采访时，尤列维奇坦率地谈到了球队的进展、面临的挑战以及她在足球生涯中的旅程。

展望未来：力争保级

尽管耶拿队本赛季尚未取得胜利，但在冬歇期到来之前，球队仍处于非 降级区。尽管战绩起伏不定，尤列维奇仍保持乐观态度：“我们有过出色的表现，尽管我们是联赛中最年轻的球队，但我们本应获得更多 积分。”她说道，“我们对目前的排名感到满意，但我们知道仍有很多工作要做。”

尤列维奇认为，保级的关键在于保持目前的排名，尽管竞争压力巨大。 “我们的目标是留在联赛中，我认为根据我们的发展情况，我们有很大的机会实现这一目标。”她补充道。

面对1.FFC图尔宾波茨坦和1.FC科隆等保级对手，尤列维奇深 知最后几场比赛至关重要。“与波茨坦和科隆的比赛将是决定性的，但我们不能只依赖这些比赛。”她强调道，“我们还希望在其他比赛 中争取积分。”

迎战霍芬海姆：全力以赴

展望1月26日对阵TSG霍芬海姆的补赛，尤列维奇充满信心，尽管 对手实力不俗。“我们是弱者，但我们会全力以赴。霍芬海姆同样面临压力，他们的赛季并未按计划进行。”她表示，相信这场比赛可能 会带来意想不到的结果。

需要改进的地方

尽管球队在防守方面表现稳定，但尤列维奇承认进攻端仍需改进。在 11场比赛中仅打入3球，耶拿队的进攻困境显而易见。“我们的防守做得不错，但我们需要打进更多的进球。”她表示，“我们在定位 球防守上失球，这是我们需要改进的另一个方面。”

训练已经重点加强进攻战术和定位球策略。“目前的天气条件很严峻， 但我们正在尽最大努力。”尤列维奇解释道。

34岁依然坚守赛场

尽管年满34岁，尤列维奇依然在高水平竞技，本赛季已首发参加了所 有11场比赛。她表示，尽管联赛质量大幅提升，但她的表现依然稳定，不过她仍认为自己可以做得更好。“自从我上次征战德甲以来， 联赛的质量已经显著提升。”她说道，“我觉得自己的表现还可以，但总有改进的空间。”

虽然本赛季她尚未取得进球，但尤列维奇仍保持信心。“作为一名6号 位球员，我的重点更多在防守，但我也有过几次机会，尤其是定位球。”她表示，“我相信随着赛季的进行，我在进攻端会变得更具威 胁。”

场上场下的榜样

即将年满35岁的尤列维奇是球队中最年长的球员之一，大多数队友都 比她年轻许多。然而，她并不认为自己是球队的“老大姐”。“作为队长，我希望以身作则，激励我的队友。”她说道。她的经验对球队 非常宝贵，她的领导力在场上场下都十分明显。

保持良好的身体状态也是尤列维奇的优先事项，她将自己的成功归功于 保持健康并避免受伤。“我没有什么特别的秘诀，但我一直保持良好的身体状态，而且幸运的是，我一直没有受伤。”她表示，“从足球 场上休息两年可能也有帮助——我仍然觉得自己充满能量。”

休整后的新视角

回顾自己离开足球的时间，尤列维奇意识到保持健康心态的重要性。 “我明白足球不是生活中最重要的事情。”她说道，“但这段休息让我意识到自己有多么想念在球场上的时光。现在，我对每一场比赛都 充满感激。”

展望未来：保级对耶拿意味着什么

对于FC卡尔蔡司耶拿来说，留在德甲将是一项巨大的成就，尤其是随 着下赛季联赛将扩军至14支球队。尤列维奇相信，这支年轻的球队仍有很大的发展潜力。“我们有很多有潜力的年轻球员，我对未来充 满信心。”她表示，“保级对俱乐部的发展意义重大。”

未来规划

至于个人未来，尤列维奇的关注点仍然是确保耶拿队的德甲席位。“目 前，我专注于保级并尽力发挥出色。至于未来，我会在适当的时候与俱乐部共同决定。”她总结道。

尤列维奇的领导力和丰富经验将对FC卡尔蔡司耶拿的保级之路至关重 要。凭借坚定的决心和积极的心态，尤列维奇致力于帮助球队留在联赛，并实现本赛季的目标。