This game was like balsam for many of Werder's small wounds. It proved crucial. The goal factory is back in business, and the entirely rebuilt defence stood solid. In addition, Claudio Pizarro showed that...
This game was like balsam for many of Werder's small wounds. It proved crucial. The goal factory is back in business, and the entirely rebuilt defence stood solid. In addition, Claudio Pizarro showed that...
This game was like balsam for many of Werder's small wounds. It proved crucial. The goal factory is back in business, and the entirely rebuilt defence stood solid. In addition, Claudio Pizarro showed that off-pitch talk had no influence on him, and Markus Rosenberg broke out of his scoring drought with two goals. Also, players like Sebastian Prödl and Peter Niemeyer fit perfectly into the strong team performance.
"The foundation for the victory was the attitude of the whole team. Everybody worked hard and did their part. We forced the issue and fortune favoured the bold," said Sebastian Prödl after the final whistle. The Austrian and the showing of the newly-formed four-man backline summed up Werder's successful evening. "They really did well," said manager Klaus Allofs of the defence. "They played close to their men. We have rarely had Mario Gomez so under control for 90 minutes. Actually he always scores in Weser Stadion. But Baumi (Frank Baumann) and Basti (Prödl) did a good job in the interior defence. They talked a lot and really adjusted to one another."
Head coach Thomas Schaaf added: "Sebastian Prödl proved why we think so highly of him. And Baumi showed that we can play him at every position and he can do his part. It's not easy when you keep having to change things."
But Werder's defensive players gladly passed on the praise for the clean sheet to the offense. Sebastian Boenisch said: "Of course it was fun because we scored four goals again and they were really nice goals too. Claudio's goal was a great shot. You really need to praise him. He is really in the middle of the focus but has been so professional that you couldn't tell it from him on the pitch. In every game and in every training he works exemplary for the whole team." Keep it up guys!
