Werder's assistant coach Wolfgang Rolff experienced quite a bit in his active career. Not only has he been named captain at nearly all his stops, but he also took part in an all-German UEFA Cup semi-final...
Werder's assistant coach Wolfgang Rolff experienced quite a bit in his active career. Not only has he been named captain at nearly all his stops, but he also took part in an all-German UEFA Cup semi-final...
Werder's assistant coach Wolfgang Rolff experienced quite a bit in his active career. Not only has he been named captain at nearly all his stops, but he also took part in an all-German UEFA Cup semi-final and even played a few years for Werder's semi-final opponent Hamburg. Rolff talks about his experiences in an interview with WERDER.DE and WERDER.TV.
Wolfgang Rolff, the UEFA Cup return leg against Hamburg will be played on Thursday. You are probably one of the most internationally experienced members of this Bremen team and even are familiar with an all-German showdown on the international stage?
Maybe I am. In 1983 I won the European Champions Cup with Hamburg and the UEFA Cup in 1988 with Bayer Leverkusen. Now we have the constellation again where we play against a German team in the UEFA Cup semi-final - just like back then with Leverkusen against Werder Bremen. And this time I get to be a coach for Werder. This is definitely a great thing!
You were team captain in the final victory over Espanyol Barcelona and were the first to hold the trophy?
Of course that is a great feeling, being the captain and having the cup in your hands while the fans break out in celebrations.
What's so special about a Bundesliga showdown on the international stage?
You know from the league how tough the opponent is, so you know how the games will be. This season, the emotions are even higher because of the derby with Hamburg. I think it will be a really heated return leg. And I hope that we edge out ahead in the end.
Would you be satisfied with this season if Werder in the end grab one title even though not all the season's goals were reached?
It always depends on the situation. We haven't been playing so well in the league. But if you win the German DFB Cup and maybe the UEFA Cup on top of that, then we saved the best of last. I believe you always have new goals in every season, even looking at the cups you have as a player or coach. It would be great if we could hold the cup in our hands on 30 May in Berlin.
