The regeneration training Friday following the Europa League match against Twente Enschede was also the final training session before the Bundesliga match at Mainz...
The regeneration training Friday following the Europa League match against Twente Enschede was also the final training session before the Bundesliga match at Mainz...
The regeneration training Friday following the Europa League match against Twente Enschede was also the final training session before the Bundesliga match at Mainz. Afterwards it was clear that Werder would be making the trip to Mainz with a few personnel question marks. Head coach Thomas Schaaf therefore nominated 19 players in order to finalise his roster on Saturday. Coming into the team for the suspended captain Torsten Frings is midfielder Aaron Hunt, who is healthy again after his thigh problems. Sebastian Mielitz will take injured goalkeeper Tim Wiese’s place on the team flight to Mainz. And Danish international Daniel Jensen will complete Werder’s roster.
It remains unclear if Peter Niemeyer will be able to play after suffering an ankle injury against Twente. Four Werder players – Mesut Özil, Aaron Hunt, Marko Marin and Per Mertesacker – will enter the game especially motivated. Those four were nominated by German national team head coach Joachim Löw for Germany’s final test match before the World Cup. Tim Wiese was forced to turn down the German national team invite due to his injury. "I called goalkeeper coach Andreas Köpke Friday morning and let him know about it. I hope that I overcome the minor muscle strain in the adductors by next Thursday and can be back," said Wiese. Despite all the concerns, coach Schaaf does not shy away from his expectation that his team will become the first side to beat Mainz this season in their own stadium. "We still have a very strong roster and are very confident," said the coach.
