Schaaf: "Putting The Icing On This Season's Cake"

First Team
Friday, 12.05.2006 / 13:50

On Saturday, 13.05.2006 at 3:30pm the 84th North Derby will get underway between Hamburg and Werder Bremen (26 wins for each side) but seldom has the clash between the two been of such immense importance.

On Saturday, 13.05.2006 at 3:30pm the 84th North Derby will get underway between Hamburg and Werder Bremen (26 wins for each side) but seldom has the clash between the two been of such immense importance as on the final day of the 2005/2006 season. While HSV lie in second place in the table on 68 points, Werder lie exactly one place behind them with only one point in the difference. Should this situation remain so after the game, Werder will be faced with two qualifying games against a recognised side if they are to reach the Champions League and Hamburg would qualify directly. A win for the Green-Whites would see them leap frog HSV and even reduce their points deficit (currently 11) against their great rivals in the historical table.

 

Excitement at 'Final' against Hamburg SV

 

The whole of Bremen is buzzing in anticipation of the 'Final' which will take place in Hamburg after Klose, Micoud and Co. looked to be out of the reckoning as they trailed by four points on the 32nd match day. "It's fantastic that we could put the icing on top of this great season's cake on the final day", glowed trainer Thomas Schaaf who is really looking forward to the game at the capacity filled AOL-Arena. German international Torsten Frings is just as excited: "We've worked so hard the whole season to put ourselves in the position they're in Now we're going to give our all to win." For Paraguayan striker Nelson Valdez the game is the "Reward" for the recent performances "In which we battled our way back into it." Defender Christian Schulz is expecting a cracker of a game: "The derby atmosphere will make it all the more special."

 

Raphael van der Vaart unavailable

 

For the opponents from Hamburg, who few expected to perform so well over the course of the season, Thomas Schaaf had only words of praise: "We knew that HSV had a strong team but you can only congratulate themm for their consistance", Schaaf rates Thomas Doll's side who have the best defence in the league having only conceded 28 goals so far. The Werder trainer has been especially impressed by Dutch international Raphael van der Vaart: "He's a phenomenal player who has played a number of exceptional games for HSV", commented the 46 year old on the young playmaker who will not be available to his coach on the 'Final' day of the season. Van der Vaart has been forced to quit training with an ankle problem this week and only rejoined the squad on Thursday. After the session though trainer Thomas Doll decided against taking a risk on the midfielder. Doll will also have to make do without Stefan Beinlich (rehab training) and Nigel de Jong (cartridge operation).

 

Baumann in question

 

For Werder trainer Schaaf, the list of injuries has shortened prior to the big match. Captain Frank Baumann returned to team training on Tuesday. A decision is still to be made on whether or not he will be ready to take part on Saturday: "He did well with the pressure of training during the week and it would of course be positive to have the captain on board but we can't afford to take any risks", explained Schaaf. "I'm fine and I'm feeling no pain", enthused Baumann. Definately unavailable are Aaron Hunt (knee problem), Jurica Vranjes (torn knee ligaments) and the suspended Johan Micoud.

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