General manager Klaus Allofs didn’t wish to make any rash comments directly after the final whistle in Nicosia, when Werder Bremen’s exit from this season Champions League competition was sealed...
General manager Klaus Allofs didn’t wish to make any rash comments directly after the final whistle in Nicosia, when Werder Bremen’s exit from this season Champions League competition was sealed...
General manager Klaus Allofs didn’t wish to make any rash comments directly after the final whistle in Nicosia, when Werder Bremen’s exit from this season Champions League competition was sealed. A sober analysis of how the group stage went this season wouldn’t really have been possible just minutes after the match, but a brief glimpse into the emotions of the ex-striker was possible: “We didn’t just want all three points here for the sake of the table, we wanted to win here to prove that we deserved to be in the next round of the competition, but a side who can’t pick up a win in two games against Famagusta is simply not good enough.”
The Green-Whites have so far played five games in the group stage, but only one of those met the expectations of the general manager: “The only really positive result was the 1-1 draw in Milan, in the other games we failed to display the potential that we possess.” The reasons for that would appear diverse but Allofs considers one of them to be a lack of internal competition for places: “The pressure from the fringe players isn’t a extreme as we would have wished for. Last year, in spite of our injury problems, we still managed to put on good performances because the players who came in were totally fired up and determined to prove themselves with strong performances. We are not at the same level this year.”
Looking to the future, Klaus Allofs once again sees the battle for an international place as being the absolute priority, and the plan is for that battle to begin on Saturday: “We must see to it that this team returns to the Champions League as quickly as possible – but it’s a long road. We have four really good games ahead of us now before the winter break. We want to take the opportunity now to reach the UEFA Cup and make up for lost ground in the Bundesliga. We need to approach the up-coming tasks energetically and in determined fashion. We must launch an attack again in the Bundesliga.”
