There was something positive to be taken from the Energie Cottbus’ passive style of play. Whilst Werder’s attackers spent 90 minutes searching for a way through the defensive stronghold of the guests...
There was something positive to be taken from the Energie Cottbus’ passive style of play. Whilst Werder’s attackers spent 90 minutes searching for a way through the defensive stronghold of the guests...
There was something positive to be taken from the Energie Cottbus’ passive style of play. Whilst Werder’s attackers spent 90 minutes searching for a way through the defensive stronghold of the guests, Per Mertesacker had a relatively quiet and almost perfect comeback at the heart of the Green-White’s defence. Alongside Naldo, in his first game since undergoing surgery on his knee at the end of July, ‘Merte’ saw no goals conceded: “I felt good right from the start but I did feel it in the last twenty minutes that I had only been back in full team training for a week,” admitted the central defender.
It was, in the end, a successful afternoon for the whole Werder team, and not just Per Mertesacker. In particular with the packed schedule that lies ahead, the win could have a very positive effect on the Werder players. Prior to the clash with Cottbus, the pressure on the players and the club was massive. “We had to show that what happened in Gladbach was a one off slip-up,” said Torsten Frings, whose goal to make it 2-0 all but sealed the points: “It was important for everyone here to see that we can wear down teams like Cottbus with a great deal of determination and use ofour technical ability. Today was a clear step away from the lower places for us and we must now continue in that direction,” summed up the vice-captain in his typical, forceful manner.
Trainer Thomas Schaaf was also visibly relieved by what he saw: “That was a step in the right direction.” The trainer went on to comment: “In the first half we didn’t make use of the space we had, but after the break we attempted to remedy that and it worked out in our favour. I am very satisfied with the team. They worked hard and always looked to get the goal. They didn’t allow their rhythm to be broken,” concluded the coach at the end of a positive day for the Green-Whites.
