Tactical fox Schaaf: Out with midfield diamond

Aaron Hunt and Mesut Özil were successful in setting up each other and the Werder strikers.
First Team
Monday, 13.04.2009 / 11:03

Head coach Thomas Schaaf really sprang a surprise. Playing without Diego against Leverkusen, the coach fielded two defensive midfielders and two offensive midfielders. The midfield diamond was not used in a...

Head coach Thomas Schaaf really sprang a surprise. Playing without Diego against Leverkusen, the coach fielded two defensive midfielders and two offensive midfielders. The midfield diamond was not used in a competitive match for the first time since becoming Werder's strategic trademark with the acquisition of Johan Micoud in 2002. And it was a tactical move which drew plenty of praise for Schaaf.

 

"That was a small revolution. But it was necessary to play that way with the personnel situation. We were missing the classical No. 10 playmaker and this variation made itself available. With (Frank) Baumann and (Torsten) Frings, we had two players who could get the job done defensively and with (Aaron) Hunt and (Mesut) Özil we had two similar players in the offensive midfield," explained manager Klaus Allofs, who apparently was one of the few who knew of head coach Thomas Schaaf's plan.

 

Even the team did not find out about the tactical changes until the team meeting the morning of the game. Torsten Frings believes the plan worked. "The coach had an idea and it was a very, very good solution. We were missing Diego, but instead we gave Aaron (Hunt) and Messi (Özil) the freedom offensively. And in the back me and Baumi (Baumann) continually switched, one always staying back and the other pushing forward. This system gave us some extra security against a very strong team. And we absolutely closed things off in the middle. Leverkusen could not go through the middle. They had to go down the wings," said a satisfied Frings.

 

"Of course we were all a little surprised because the coach rarely changes the system. But it was a very good solution. We played that way for the first time in a competitive game and it worked quite well. It would take some time to perfect it. But it would be fun," said Hunt. And Özil added: "I have never played in the way at Werder. But it was fun. We did a good job and were rewarded with a point against a very good team like Leverkusen.

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