Following what Torsten frings considered to be ‚Bonus’ during the week against FC Barcelona in the Champions League, Werder Bremen now prepare to take on Borussia Mönchengladbach in the Bundesliga on Saturday, 30.09.2006 in the “Most important competition”. Traditionally there has been little success for Gladbach at the Weser Stadium who won their last tie in Bremen some 19 years ago, back on 21.03.1987. Since then the two have met seventeen times.
Gladbach looking to improve away balance
Since returning to Gladbach, trainer Jupp Heynckes has so far this season managed three wins from his five games – an orderly take but old away weaknesses remain. Borussia lost both of their away matches in Nuremburg (1:0) and at Alemannia Aachen (2:4). “They how we want things to remain”, commented Werder coach Thomas Schaaf.
To win the tie, Werder will “Have to take the lift we got in the Champions League against FC Barcelona into this game too”, exclaimed defender Clemens Fritz. Thomas Schaaf’s tactic is clear: “We must force our opponents into making mistakes and see to it that we combine well to continue our flow. Aside from that we must improve our quote in front of goal.” The Werder trainer wants to see his team prevent their opponents from settling on the ball but he also knows: “It will be a very different game to the one against the Spanish champions.” Captain Frank Baumann agrees: “Barcelona is a thing of the past and we must focus on Gladbach now.” World cup ‘Golden Boot’ winner Miroslav Klose added: “Three points, no matter how!” Should they perform on Saturday as they did against the Catalan side then there should be no need for such a knife edge tie.
Both sides with injury worries
The Borussia team, powered on by new signing Federico Insúa are also determined to take the three points: “If we wish to remain it the upper area of the tablethen we must collect points”, explained sport director Peter Pander. The ‘Fohlen’ will be without the services of striker Oliver Neuville who is suffering with an Achilles problem. Jupp Heynckes will also have to make do without Nando Rafael (groin troublr) and Filip Daems (Achilles). The home side are also not without their own injury list. Definite non contenders will be Tim Borowski (knee ligaments) and Patrick Owomoyela (ankle) with a question mark over the fitness of Per Mertesacker. “His heel was strained after the game against Barcelona but it is possible that he could play.”
Johnnie Muldoon