It’s been quite a week for goalkeeper Christian Vander. Firstly he extended his current contract with Werder Bremen for a further two years and now it is clear that he will take up his place between the posts in Leverkusen this Saturday left vacant by first choice keeper Tim Wiese, who has been ruled out with a patella tendon syndrome.
“I am delighted to have the opportunity to prove myself once again,” said Vander. The 28 year old played his last competitive game back in March for the Werder reserves against the VfL Wolfsburg reserves in the German regional league, north division. Vander did have to admit that such a lengthy break cannot pass by a goalkeeper without leaving some sort of mark: “Of course it’s very difficult without practice because you are out of the playing rhythm, but in training I am at 100%.”
Both the coaching staff and his team mates have absolute fate in the reserve keeper: “He has put on some good performances and we trust fully in his ability,” assured trainer Thomas Schaaf. Central defender Per Mertesacker shares his trainer’s opinion and commented: “He does a great job. Of course we have every fate in him.”
Aside from Tim Wiese, striker Ivan Klasnic was also absent from the Wednesday afternoon training session. Thomas Schaaf explained: “Ivan has a shin problem and we will have to wait and see how things develop with him.” Klasnic himself remarked: “It doesn’t feel so good at the moment. I’ve been carrying the knock around with me for a week now and I have the feeling it has gotten a little worse, but I am not giving up on the possibility of playing against Leverkusen just yet.”