Neither Werder’s players nor the coaching staff had too much time to mull over what went wrong in Hanover at the weekend, with the plane to take them to their next massive challenge ready to take-off on Monday morning.
Neither Werder’s players nor the coaching staff had too much time to mull over what went wrong in Hanover at the weekend, with the plane to take them to their next massive challenge ready to take-off on Monday morning.
Neither Werder’s players nor the coaching staff had too much time to mull over what went wrong in Hanover at the weekend, with the plane to take them to their next massive challenge ready to take-off on Monday morning. This time it is the group stage qualifier in the Champions League between the Green-Whites and Olympiacos CFP Piraeus for a spot in the last sixteen of the competition: “Of course we were very frustrated about the Hanover game but we had Sunday to dwell on that and now we have one of the most wonderful games ahead of us. We can do ourselves a lot of favours in Piraeus”, explained captain Frank Baumann who demonstrated where the fine line lies between processing the past and anticipation of the future.
This anticipation stoked at the fires of trainer Thomas Schaaf ahead of the departure on Monday: “It’s one of those games we won’t be able to do anything about once that result is confirmed but, to be honest, all we can do is win. The position we want to be in if filled by someone else at the moment and we intend to force our way back in there.” In the coaches opinion though, the success of the whole of the first half of the season doesn’t hang on the result of the game in Greece: “The fact is that we already can say that the team have performed amazingly in the last half year. That stands above all else. In the games against Piraeus and Leverkusen we can merely put the icing on the cake.”
To do so, Schaaf would like to see the emotions from Saturday’s game in Hanover rise up again: “That’s exactly what we want to see. We don’t want to see a quiet and dull game but rather one with determination and passion. In contrary to the game against 96, we can’t allow ourselves to be put out of our stride. We can show emotion but need to accept the fact that there are sometimes things that happen in football which you have no influence over. That includes the fact that the sport is not always just and fair”, explained Schaaf.
The task of mastering that particular challenge will be an especially tough one on Tuesday night in a very unique atmosphere at the modern but small Karaiskakis-Stadium: “There will be more going on there on Tuesday night than there was under similar circumstances back then in Valencia. Anyone who has seen a game in Greece will be well aware of just the kind of spirit those fans possess and a compact stadium such as the one in Piraeus will of course add to that. It will surely keep us on our toes”, said Schaaf in closing.
Taking the hurdle of Piraeus would have serious repercussions for the German club. Another progression to the round of the last 16 would further raise the Green-Whites profile yet again and improve the image still more: “It would be the setting down of another benchmark”, admitted general manager Klaus Allofs. The clubs chairman Jürgen L. Born reminded all on hand of the financial aspect: “Tomorrow’s game is worth around €4 million to Werder Bremen.”
Points, image and revenue!! A win against Olympiacos could be so important to Werder. Born commented: “A win here would bring great joy to the team, the fans and the sponsors too”, with a smile on his lips, Born concluded: “I’m pretty convinced we’ll do it. At the end of the day, those who want to reach the final, need to make the last sixteen first.”
Johnnie Muldoon
