Werder bremens busy week continues after their 1:1 draw in Udine on Tuesday, the Bundesliga leaders will take on Hanover 96 on Saturday, 22.10.2005.
Werder bremens busy week continues after their 1:1 draw in Udine on Tuesday, the Bundesliga leaders will take on Hanover 96 on Saturday, 22.10.2005.
Werder bremens busy week continues after their 1:1 draw in Udine on Tuesday, the Bundesliga leaders will take on Hanover 96 on Saturday, 22.10.2005 in the weekends 'little' Northern derby. The Green-Whites manager Klaus Allofs doesn't believe his side will be under extra pressure to win on Saturday and stay top: "We haven't felt like hunters over the last few weeks and now we don't feel like the hunted. Three years ago this would have been a very special situation but the players are well equiped to deal with that now." Allofs though was very clear in stating the importance of the game: "It's our next game, and so it's now for us, the most important game of the season."
Thomas Schaaf would also like to take three points back home with him at the weekend: "We have many high points in a season and that's why this is a game like any other for us but the tie against Hanover has a special meaning in the region." Schaaf is hoping his team will again present themselves in a favourable light and this time be rewarded for it: "We want to defend our position at the top of the table and prove the quality of our performances", commented the Werder coach.
Hanover have proven a good omen for Werder in recent years scoring 13 times in their last three games. The last two games finished 5:1 and 4:1 respectively.
Thomas Schaaf is wary of reckoning with the three points too early: "Hanover have gathered self-confidence since their 4:1 win in Cologne and will go into this game positively", explained the coach, who also believes the local crowd will spur on their side. "The demands of the fans in Hanover are always high and they'll make life difficult for us." Trainer Ewald Lienen and the Lower Saxony teams faithful are all eager for the tie and Schaaf knows that it won't be an easy match. "They are a compact side and have two very strong player in front of the defence in Altin Lala and Christoph Dabrowski who will attempt to break down our forward movement." Aside from those two, Hanovers defence is controlled by German international Per Mertrsacker. The lanky centre half is looking forward to playing against DFB team mate Miroslav Klose and his strike partner Ivan Klasnic. "It's always a pleasure to play against such people, if we can cut them out it would be a huge bonus for us."
Werder will again have to do without the services of Petri Pasanen following the after effects of concussion. Other exemptions will be Ümit Davala (hip injury), Jelle van Damme (groin operation) and Tim Wiese (rehab after cruciate operation). Whether or not Johan Micoud will take part is unclear due to a thigh problem.
