For the third time during Thomas Schaaf’s tenure following 2001 and 2002, Werder Bremen started their season with a defeat. Especially bitter about this time was that Werder got out...
For the third time during Thomas Schaaf’s tenure following 2001 and 2002, Werder Bremen started their season with a defeat. Especially bitter about this time was that Werder got out...
For the third time during Thomas Schaaf’s tenure following 2001 and 2002, Werder Bremen started their season with a defeat. Especially bitter about this time was that Werder got out of the starting gates with a home loss. And the disappointment was clear to be seen on all Green-Whites involved. "Over long stretches, that was not a very good game for us. In the second half we had one phase where we put Frankfurt under pressure. But we could not break through with a goal. And in the back the goals were too easily allowed. The first two were again 'nice' counter-attacks goals after simple mistakes. We especially wanted to watch out for that. But there was clearly a missing comfort level with the ball. Every one of us has work to do," said Bremen vice-captain Per Mertesacker.
Captain Torsten Frings said the team was missing a sense of togetherness. "We did not work together enough as a team. We allowed them to counter against us and the marking was not good on the goals allowed," said Frings. "We also had only about 20 minutes in the second half where we really put Frankfurt under pressure. There are still things that are not working right that we have to work on. Maybe our German Cup showing in Berlin was a little too easy." Head coach Thomas Schaaf agreed. "We did not have the comfort level on the ball and were missing the strength in tackles, which was something we had prepared to do. We did not move very well defensively and we were too passive, always giving Frankfurt too much room to play onto the strikers. We just could not allow that," said Schaaf.
