"Fired up" for pre-season

Head coach Viktor Skripnik and his coaching staff are full of anticipation for the new season (photo: nph)
First Team
Wednesday, 01.07.2015 / 21:13

For five weeks, Werder's training ground was silent. For five weeks, the first-team players were able to recharge their batteries on holiday. Neither the...

For five weeks, Werder's training ground was silent. For five weeks, the first-team players were able to recharge their batteries on holiday. Neither the Osterdeich training pitches nor the stands of the Weserstadion saw any action. The mixed zone, press room and TV studios all remained unused for a month. But with the players' return to training on Wednesday, the bustling Green-White way of life returned too. At the opening press conference, head coach Viktor Skripnik and sporting director Thomas Eichin looked ahead to the new season.

Skripnik's team has begun a pre-season programme, set to last over a month, full of goals and plans for the new season, as well as the hopes and expectations of the supporters. First on the agenda was a lactate test in the morning. Coach Skripnik insisted that the next step for his Werder team would be ensuring a continuation of the encouraging foundations laid and strong performances witnessed at the end of last term. "We saw in the 2014/15 season that we can play good football. But a whole campaign doesn't just last one day. Performing consistently will be very important for us this time out," said Skripnik.

Intensify interconnectivity, promote more talent

Youth talents such as Julian von Haacke, Lukas Fröde, Janek Sternberg and Maxi Eggestein were able to make the step up to the first team last season (photo: nph)

One particular aim is to continue to introduce the top talents from the U23 side to the first team, and to promote greater closeness between the two sides. "We want to give the younger players more playing time. Only that way can they keep developing," emphasised Skripnik. Thomas Eichin also highlighted the significance of the close relationship between youth team and first team. With promotion to the third division, the U23 side has further increased its appeal.

Whilst the focus is on integrating the young players and building on last season, neither Eichin nor Skripnik would be drawn on naming where in the table they hope to finish. "The main goal is to finish in the top half. Having our eyes on the European places is obviously not a problem, but there is no fixed goal to finish up there." Much more important is "to be sitting comfortably after the first five or six games," continued the sporting director.

"We want to take the next step"

Coach Viktor Skripnik hopes for a "fiery" pre-season and a successful start to the campaign (photo: nph)

In order to accomplish this, the pre-season preparations - more specifically, the planned training camps in Neuruppin and Zillertal - will play a crucial role. "I'm hoping for an especially good pre-season with few injuries and plenty of commitment from the players. After that we need to make a good start to the campaign and keep improving thereafter. We weren't born yesterday; we know what we have to do," said Skripnik.

It will be hot in Brandenburg from Thursday, with more than 30 degrees expected, but the eastern state won't be the only thing feeling the heat; the team are ready to attack pre-season, with high motivation levels and passion. "We're all fired up for it. There have already been some good conversations with the boys, as well as amongst the coaching staff. We want to take the next step." In the next few days, Skripnik will look on as these words become actions. He's scheduled three training sessions a day. "Football is no walk in the park," noted the head coach. Werder are sure to feel the burn in Neuruppin.

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