Back to his old home

Werder centre back Assani Lukimya is fully focused on the next game against Hertha BSC (photo: nph)
First Team
Tuesday, 18.08.2015 / 18:55

Former Hertha BSC man Assani Lukimya is set to return to Berlin this Friday for the Werder's second Bundesliga game of the season. "On Tuesday the Werder pros started their... 

On Tuesday the Werder players started their short week of training ahead of Friday's away game at Hertha BSC Berlin (20:30 CEST) with a double-header of training. The game in the German capital will be a very special one for Werder central defender Assani Lukimya. The 29-year-old from Congo returns to one of his former clubs with the Green-Whites. "Luki" is desperate for his team to enjoy their first win of the season on the second weekend of the campaign. "After the defeat against, Schalke we want and need to react well in Berlin," demands the defender.

Lukimya featured for the capital club between 2004 and 2007, first in the youth teams, and later in Hertha's reserve, so he is really looking forward to his return to Berlin. "I'm very excited for the game. I still have lots of friends in Berlin, and a large part of my family still lives there. It was at Hertha that I made the leap from youth to professional football. The journey into the capital is always something special. However, what will make it really special is if we win there on Friday," said Lukimya. A victory after the defeat against Schalke is the "only aim".

Full concentration on Berlin

Assani Lukimya turns away to celebrate his goal the last time these two sides met (photo: nph)

"We've put the game against Schalke behind us. We've analysed and looked back on the match, and we know exactly what we need to do better in Berlin," said the Congolese defender. However, he knows that they have less time than usual to prepare for the next game. "Since we're playing on Friday, our usual weekly routine has been pushed forward by a day. We could have done with Monday off to properly reflect on the defeat against Schalke. We've had it out of our minds since Tuesday and now we're completely focused on Berlin," Luki explains.

He has good memories of the last game in the Olympiastadion. Despite being 2-0 behind, the Green-Whites were able to fight back to draw the game 2-2. Not least thanks to a goal from Werder's number 5. "I have nothing against scoring goals. But if I don't score and we manage to take the three points back from Berlin, then I'm equally happy."

The Werder squad have an intensive training regime before their game against Hertha. The first two sessions were completed on Tuesday. All members of the squad were able to traiin, but Fin Bartels and Florian Grillitsch pulled out of the afternoon session injured. Grillitsch picked up a knock on his right foot during training, and Bartels too wasn't able to continue after a collision. More information will follow on WERDER.DE after closer examination on the two players.

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