Despite a very changeable season, Werder Bremen could still make it into the European Cup. Coach Ole Werner is calm and spoke about Justin Njinmah and Jens Stage. Niclas Füllkrug was also a topic.
Jens Stage was only a substitute against Gladbach – and against Leipzig? IMAGO/Nico Herbertz
“I’m not a guy who dreams,” said Ole Werner at a press conference on Thursday. “But someone who has a lot of confidence in his team.” You are no longer playing “against” something (namely relegation), “but for something”.
Thanks to the weak competition, Werder Bremen and their head coach can still take part in the European Cup despite just 38 points from 32 games. To do this, the Green-Whites have to win in Leipzig on Saturday (3:30 p.m., LIVE! on kicker). “We can’t have too many easy ball losses in the build-up and have to be there when a door opens,” explained Werner.
Justin Njinmah is missing from this task again. It is even “very, very unlikely” that the striker will be able to return on the final day of the match against Bochum. “He has a stubborn viral illness that has knocked his socks off,” said Werner.
“You want to know the lineup, right?”
On the other hand, Jens Stage is, as usual, part of the Werder squad. The coach left it open whether the Dane would be allowed to start again, unlike in the game against Mönchengladbach: “Jens always plays a role in our starting eleven considerations.” And smiled and skillfully dismissed a reporter: “You want to know the lineup, right?”
But he won’t reveal these yet: “We have many alternatives for the center. We are happy that we have everyone together again and are spoiled for choice.”
Coulibaly comes from HSV
Karim Coulibaly could be another option in the medium term. The 16-year-old is moving from Hamburger SV’s youth team to Bremen in the summer. “He’s a talented boy,” said Werner. “We are very happy that we were able to win him over.” We’ll see how the preparation goes in the summer: “We want to build him up little by little. It may be that he’s in training (for the professionals, Anm. d. Red.) can get a taste of it despite his young age.”
Thursday was also about a former Werder player: Niclas Füllkrug. However, his success at European level does not come as a huge surprise to his former club.
“I don’t rub my eyes,” said Clemens Fritz, head of the licensing department and soon to be managing director of sports. “It’s an extraordinary achievement from Füll and Borussia Dortmund to be in the Champions League final. Big congratulations from us, that’s what he’s always worked towards.”
2024-05-09 13:36:47
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