They did it before kick-off, continuously throughout the game and of course especially emphatically after the match. The fans cheered with fervour and enthusiasm, full of...
They did it before kick-off, continuously throughout the game and of course especially emphatically after the match. The fans cheered with fervour and enthusiasm, full of...
They did it before kick-off, continuously throughout the game and of course especially emphatically after the match. The fans cheered with fervour and enthusiasm, full of adoration and gratitude. They sang and danced and turned the final into a tribute for two great Werder players. It was moving how the fans at Berlin's Olympic Stadium paid homage to Diego and Frank Baumann. The final against Bayer Leverkusen for both was their final appearance in a Werder jersey. And it turned out triumphant. "What a wonderful farewell game," said Per Mertesacker.
"It was very emotional even before the game," said manager Klaus Allofs. "When the hymn was playing and you see players like Baumann and Diego for the last time in Werder dress, you really have to hold it back." Goal scorer Mesut Özil was full of praise for Diego: "That was a good ball from Diego. I thanked him for that and for his very good match. It's really too bad that Diego is leaving. We always played really well together and got along good off the pitch." And head coach Thomas Schaaf had some fine words about Frank Baumann, who had to leave the pitch with an Achilles tendon injury after 60 minutes in the final game of his career. "He is a tremendous sportsman and man. He totally deserved all the applause and sympathies that he received," said Schaaf.
It is simply a wonderful football story that Werder won a title to finish off a turbulent season in the final game for Frank Baumann and Diego, two so defining players within the team. Of course the team could only win the final playing together. But somehow this is also Diego's and Baumann's cup.
