"Team performance" secures birthday win

The Bremen players were able to celebrate a rare away win (photo: nph)
First Team
Thursday, 05.02.2015 / 00:24

Viktor Skripnik asked his team to be courageous and confident ahead of their away match against 1899 Hoffenheim, and that's just what they did. Werder Bremen travel back home...

Viktor Skripnik asked his team to be courageous and confident ahead of their away match against 1899 Hoffenheim, and that's just what they did. Werder Bremen travel back home with three points in the bag to celebrate the club's 116th birthday.

"These three points are incredibly important for us. We started the game well and had a great first 15 minutes. We dropped off after that and their goal was always coming, but our body language was much better in the second half. We're delighted with the win," was manager Viktor Skripnik's summary.

WERDER.DE went into the mixed zone to collect the Bremen camp's match reaction, as well as ask about Franco Di Santo's importance and the upcoming games.

Thoughts on the match:

Viktor Skripnik: "We worked incredibly well without the ball, but we have to realise that we can't just play at that level for the first 15 minutes. The aim has to be to play like that throughout an entire match. We had a bit of luck in the first half, but we didn't allow a strong opponent any more chance after the break."

Playing against Hoffenheim was a strange feeling for Jannik Vestergaard (photo: nph)

Jannik Vestergaard: "For me, today's game was something you don't experience every day. It was a strange feeling to visit the stadium that I've been playing my home games at for years. But once the game kicked off, I was fully focused. We put in a real team performance today and defended well, even when Hoffenheim were putting us under pressure. We were a little more clinical than them today and maybe a bit sharper. The win will do us a lot of good."

Fin Bartels: "Our aim was to improve even more today and we really threw everything into it and fought until the end. The goal to put us 2-1 up was a little fortunate, but we didn't allow our opponents anything after it. It feels good to win away from home again."

Franco Di Santo: "We're very happy. We had to battle hard for the three points. I'm proud of every sing player - we showed that we're a good team."

Philipp Bargfrede: "We started well but we let the game slip away from us after that. We came out of the break strong and in the end we deserve to take the points home with us. If it were up to me, we'd play Hoffenheim every week - I seem to enjoy scoring against them (laughs). The goal was obviously great for me, but the win is far more important."

Looking ahead to the next games: 

Thomas Eichin: "We have to be confident and courageous in our next games too. We know that there's still a long way to go and don't want to fall away."

Viktor Skripnik: "Only points matter in a relegation battle. This win was extremely important for us. But we haven't achieved our aim yet and have to continue to work hard."

Fin Bartels: "To start with two wins is very important for us. But it's still tight and we don't want to fall away. We have two home games coming up and we have to pick up points in them."

Philipp Bargfrede: "We've started well after the winter break and that's given us self-belief. But we have to give our all week after week in order to pick up the necessary points."

Franco Di Santo has received praise from his teammates after his third goal in two games (photo: nph)

Thoughts on the importance of Franco Di Santo:

Fin Bartels: "He has shown once again that he's an incredible footballer that would do well in any team. We're very happy to have him that he's scoring goals for us."

Jannik Vestergaard: "Franco is a top player. We're happy that we have him."

Thomas Eichin: "It's his job to score goals for us. And he's very good at his job. He's a team player and he shows that. But you can't forget the other players. The whole team is doing a great job at the moment."

Viktor Skripnik: "I'd like to praise some of the other players tonight. Raphael Wolf had a great game and he helped us on a few occasions. It gives you confidence when you know that the he's behind you."

Thoughts on the fans:

Viktor Skripnik: "The fans are very important for us. It's unbelievable that they're always there. Their support is extremely important for my team."

Franco Di Santo: "The support from the fans was the biggest surprise for me when I came to Bremen. You can't describe it and it gives us a lot of energy. Our fans are amazing."

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