Werder fans breathed a collective sigh of relief as Mesut Özil, Marko Marin and Torsten Frings all announced that they would be available for the Europa League return leg against...
Werder fans breathed a collective sigh of relief as Mesut Özil, Marko Marin and Torsten Frings all announced that they would be available for the Europa League return leg against...
Werder fans breathed a collective sigh of relief as Mesut Özil, Marko Marin and Torsten Frings all announced that they would be available for the Europa League return leg against FC Valencia. All three players completed the final training Wednesday afternoon. The reactions afterwards were short but definitive. "Yeah, it’s okay," said team captain Frings coming off the training pitch. "My back problems are better, I will play tomorrow," said Özil. And Marin added: "I am fit enough so that nothing stands in my way of playing." All three completed the complete training session.
For the Thursday night game in Weser Stadium, there will be 30,000 seats available. Some 23,000 tickets have already been sold and only 250 Spanish fans are making their way up to Bremen. The outlook is good for Bremen, whose fans will dominate the grandstands. But that dominance must be transferred to the pitch as well, as head coach Thomas Schaaf said after final training. "The most important thing is to find our game as quickly as possible and show what makes us strong – both on offence and defence. We have to play with conviction in order to advance. You have to have that self-confidence. The team is very tight, very concentrated and want to prove themselves," said the Bremen coach, who is happy about the return of his midfield trio. "Mesut, Marko and Torsten are nominated for the roster. Their pains have improved considerably so nothing stands in the way from playing.”
