Cedric Itten faces an uphill battle for playing time at SV Werder Bremen due to the blistering form of forward Niclas Füllkrug, according to reporting by rp-online.de and LigaInsider. The 29-year-old Swiss international, who joined Werder following a stint with Fortuna Düsseldorf and a period as a free agent, has been restricted to substitute appearances in the Bundesliga this season.
Daniel Thioune Demands Greater Box Presence From Itten
Werder Bremen head coach Daniel Thioune has publicly challenged Itten to make a stronger impact when introduced from the bench. Following a 2–2 draw against SC Paderborn 07 where Itten logged roughly half an hour of action as a second striker, Thioune voiced clear expectations to the media.
“In the moments when he gets playing time, he also has to show himself,” Thioune said, as reported by Bild and referenced by LigaInsider. “He is a striker, and it would have been significantly better if he had scored a goal or at least had a few shots. I would have liked a little more presence in the box.”
Thioune drew parallels to Itten’s productive spell at Fortuna Düsseldorf, where the forward regularly featured for full 90-minute stretches. “It is naturally difficult when you don’t have rhythm,” Thioune noted. “In Düsseldorf he had it. There he stood on the pitch week after week for 90 minutes.”
Niclas Füllkrug Blocks the Path in Werder’s Fixed System
The primary barrier to Itten’s aspirations is the sensational run of Niclas Füllkrug. The veteran striker returned to Weser in a late transfer window move and has since netted six goals in six league appearances, anchoring an attacking system that leaves little room for rotation.
“Niclas is the reason why he is not playing as much as he imagines,” Thioune stated bluntly regarding Itten’s predicament. “The system is fixed right now. Currently, there is no way past Niclas.”
This stark reality contrasts sharply with the pre-season expectations when Itten and former teammate Dawid Kownacki arrived in Bremen to reunite with their former Fortuna Düsseldorf manager. While Itten remains with the club in a secondary role, Kownacki’s tenure ended prematurely when he and Werder officials agreed to a contract termination in September.
Itten Fights for Minutes at Werder Bremen
With Füllkrug firing on all cylinders and maintaining his undisputed status in the starting lineup, Itten must capitalize on limited substitute minutes to regain match sharpness and force a rethink in the coaching staff’s tactical hierarchy. Werder Bremen continues its Bundesliga campaign under strict tactical parameters, leaving Itten dependent on high-efficiency cameos to alter his current standing.
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