Almanach 2011 - V to X: Never back to second division!

Werder fans were relieved before the deciding game against Dortmund that the club would not be relegated.
First Team
Thursday, 29.12.2011 / 12:51

Twelve months have flown by - filled with highs and lows, celebrations and disappointments, departures and returns. 2011 - a year with wonderful moments but also some difficult times between relegation angst and dreams of fall championships. It's not easy to retain...

Twelve months have flown by - filled with highs and lows, celebrations and disappointments, departures and returns. 2011 - a year with wonderful moments but also some difficult times between relegation angst and dreams of fall championships. It's not easy to retain an overview of it all. That's why WERDER.DE once again is offering its Green-Whites almanac at year's end. Werder 2011 from A to Z, to remember and smile. Today: Part 8 - V to X:

V – Vast number of injuries

Götz Dimanski definitely could not complain about not having enough work this year. The Green-Whites' team doctor had plenty to do, just like the team's physiotherapists. It's no surprise that the vast number of injuries had a major role in the club's poor 2010-11 season. Especially painful for head coach Thomas Schaaf were the long-term injuries to Naldo (knee oedema), Sebastian Boenisch (knee cartilage damage) and Wesley (torn thigh tendon).

But the list of injured players was much longer. Sebastian Prödl (also torn thigh tendon) and Per Mertesacker (heel inflammation) were too more defenders to miss time and lead to a continuous restructuring of the four-man backline. Missing at the start of the new season was Claudio Pizarro (knee) while Mikaël Silvestre (knee), Denni Avdic (pelvis), Tim Borowski (ankle) and Aleksandar Stevanovic (knee) are some more long-term injuries. Hopefully Dimanski doesn't have as much work in 2012.

W – Welcome back

10 September 2011 was a very special day in Weser Stadium as Ronaldo Aparecido Rodrigues - or Naldo for short - returned to the pitch for the first time for a competitive match for Bremen after a 16-month injury break. Goalkeeper Tim Wiese later said he had goosebumps when Naldo was substituted into the game and was greeted by cheering and songs. "That was unparalleled," said Naldo. Former captain and long-time teammate Torsten Frings said he had tears in his eyes upon hearing the news in far-off Toronto. The fact that it was Naldo's 29th birthday and that the game turned out to be a home victory over northern German rivals Hamburg were just side notes.

X - XXXIII (Roman numeral 33)

Mikael Silvestre's goal to make it 1-0 over Borussia Dortmund did not decide the German championship. Dortmund had already secured the title going into the 33rd game day of the 2010-11 season. But the match on 7 May was of crucial importance in Werder's fight against relegation. And the players and fans celebrated Frenchman's early goal so much because they hoped it was the beginning of the end of Bremen's relegation fear. Claudio Pizarro finished off any thoughts of relegation with his goal, setting Weser Stadium into a frenzy. It was finally clear that Werder Bremen, who finished third in 2009-10, would return to the Bundesliga for the 2011-12 season.

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