The 2004/2005 season rolls to a close this Saturday and the Green-Whites are still unsure as to which European competition they will be representing themselves in next season. One thing is clear! If Werders pre-season Champions League goal is to be achieved then a win is neccessity on Saturday, 21.05.2005 when they travel to the Betzenberg to take on 1. FC Kaiserslautern...and the competition must slip-up.
The situation is pretty simple, competitors for the highly valuable third spot, Stuttgart and Hertha Berlin must fail to win their respective ties against Bayern Munich and Hanover 96 - provided Werder can collect all three points on the Betzenberg. Very few reckoned with Thomas Schaafs side still having any hope of making the Champions League, even after they had secured a UEFA cup spot but now with all over bar the shouting, Werder have dragged themselves back into contention.
Thomas Schaaf is secretly hoping for a fluff by his competitors but will only concern himself withthe others once the 90 minutes are up in Kaiserslautern: "We can't influence the performance of the others. We have a job to do ourselves first, we want to finish the season on a positive not with three points - maybe after that we'll have another reason to celebrate."
FCK coach Mosers last day in the dugout
The Palatinate side will also wish to finish the season on a high, the final game of the season at the Fritz-Walter-Stadium, a match that will linger in the memory of FCK's fans right through the summer. Kaiserslauterns more recent performances are mirrored by their position in the table. Eleventh place no-mans-land means little reason for joy amongst caretaker coach Hans Werner Mosers side. There are a number of reasons for Lauterns poor season. Initially they have suffered from a weakness at the back, proving particularly shaky from set pieces. That coupled with a less than effecient strike force could well explain their position. Injuries to key players such as Sforza, Armanatidis, Tchato and Mettomo have meant FCK's inability to field their strongest team of late.
Hans Werner Moser will guide Lautern for the last time on Saturday having taken the reigns in April following the shock resignation of Kurt Jara. The 39 year-old will return to the amateurs with Michael Henke taking over the side for the next season. The fans of the "Roten Teufel" (red-devils) have had little to shout about under the guidance of Moser. Four defeats in six games with only two wins against Armenia Bielefeld and the already relegated SC Freiburg.
Klasnic and Ismael fit, comeback for captain Baumann
FCK hope to finish the season positively against Werder: "We've got to get stuck in against Bremen and show everyone that we're not on holiday yet", demanded midfielder Halil Altintop from his colleagues. Moser is expected to start with Jancker and Armanatidis up front with Zandi pulling the strings in the middle. A flat back four can be expected with Hertzsch and Mettomo at the heart and Lembi (left) and Tchato (right) in the wide positions. Ciriaco Sforza is not likely to start having recently recovered from an achilles injury.
Thomas Schaaf can once again call upon two key players for the last game of the season. Ivan Klasnic and Valerien Ismael will return to the squad with hope still of a comeback for captain Frank Baumann. Baumanns return would now be well timed with the loss of Daniel Jensen (ankle ligament tear). 2,300 Werder fans will fire on their team on the Betzenberg in the hope - that all going well - Werder can finish the day in third place.
Johnnie Muldoon