Sebastian Prödl may not have put on his best ever performance against Köln on Sunday, but he hardly deserved the reaction he received. After just twenty minutes of play, a dissatisfied groan echoed...
Sebastian Prödl may not have put on his best ever performance against Köln on Sunday, but he hardly deserved the reaction he received. After just twenty minutes of play, a dissatisfied groan echoed...
Sebastian Prödl may not have put on his best ever performance against Köln on Sunday, but he hardly deserved the reaction he received. After just twenty minutes of play, a dissatisfied groan echoed around the stadium every time he touched the ball. Consequently the reaction of the spectators led trainer Thomas Schaaf in his decision to make the substitution: “Of course it’s understandable that there is an amount of dissatisfaction and impatience considering the current situation, but I got the feeling today that a great deal of that was being unloaded particularly on Sebastian Prödl. I decided to make the substitution in order to spare him that. I felt genuinely sorry for him. I know exactly how discontented he is now sitting in the changing room,” remarked Schaaf on his half-time substitution, but he also had an eye on the effect on the team as a whole: “The reactions of the spectators didn’t do the team much good at all. They can feel the disconcertment on the pitch and that is not exactly inspiring.”
Schaaf also accentuated the fact that he would have appreciated more support for the young Austrian international: “Sebastian has settled in with us very well so far. He is an absolute professional and he gives 100% every day. He is eager to learn and willing, without comment, to take up a position which is not his favourite place on the park. He is happy to play there because that’s where we need him. Aside from that, he has performed very well in that position, although it is clear that, from time to time, certain things don’t work out for him. It’s a real shame that he then has to deal with such immediate reactions.”
There is no questioning the fact that Werder intend to continue using their young players. General manager Klaus Allofs had some words to spirit the youngsters: “You cannot criticise the commitment of players such as Sebastian Prödl or Sebastian Boenish. They are always willing to give their all for the team. In particular as a young player, there can be a tendency to be over motivated. As they gather experience they will find the right balance and poise.”
