Two New Back Lines In UEFA Cup Second Leg

First Team
Thursday, 12.04.2007 / 08:54

Against Alkmaar, the most successful, attacking, side in the UEFA Cup competition, Werder are facing difficulties at the back.

Against Alkmaar, the most successful, attacking, side in the UEFA Cup competition, Werder are facing difficulties at the back. In comparison with last weeks first leg tie, coach Thomas Schaaf is forced into making two changes to his back four. Pierre Womé (foot injury) and Per Mertesacker (meniscus operation) are both unavailable. To add insult to injury, the trainer is limited as to his alternatives: “Christian Schulz will also definitely not be in the squad. This season, a number of players from the wide positions have been left wanting”, explained a frustrated coach.

 

Still, the trainers laid back humour would hint towards the relaxed manner in which he is approaching the situation – the reason being his faith in his team: “Of course, with the absence of Merte we are missing a player who has performed extremely well this season and one who has lent us a great deal of stability. We did know though that, over the course of the year, we would have to make do without players who are essential to the team, and so far we've always been able to find a solution.”

 

One of the players that Schaaf was talking about was sitting right by his side at the pre-match press conference. Club captain Frank Baumann. Following his comeback against ex-club FC Nuremberg at the weekend, the club captain is hoping to make his return to the European stage: “Of course I, like any other player, want to play from the beginning, but I also know that I was injured for a long time and am not 100% fit. I don't have any problems with my achilles now and the best way to make up for lost time is with match practice”, said Baumann.

 

Aside from the captain, their is a very distinct chance for Finnish defender Petri Pasanen to snag one of the open places at the back: “Petri will cetainly be able to help us further with his versatility. He has often played in the wide positions but has proven his quality in the centre too”, remarked the coach who was still playing his cards close to his chest about the Finns roll.

 

The personnel situation is of little interest to Alkmaar coach Louis van Gaal: “I can't really say how significant the loss of Schulz is to Werder. They have other players of exceptional quality”, warned the Dutch coach respectfully. The second place side in the Dutch league are no strangers to defensive problems of their own. Alkmaar will have to make changes to their back four too with the suspension of Steinsson deal with: “We have problems of our own in that area of the pitch”, admitted van Gaal but, he is still confident ahead of the second leg tie in Bremen: “The chances are 50-50. There are no favourites”, acknowledged the coach and also admitted preparing for the next round: “Yes, we have sent someone to Barcelona.”

 

Neither side wish to see another 0:0 draw and the possibility of a penalty shoot out to decide the match. Schaaf commented: “You can't train for that sort of situation. You can expect every player to be able to hit the target from eleven meters out but that's all you can expect.” The Werder coach is, instead, hoping for an improved attack: “Goals are part of good play and recently we have been found wanting in that department. I hope to see a few goals tomorrow and that we are more effective than our opponents”, summed up Schaaf.

 

The following squad is available for selection against AZ Alkmaar: Wiese, Reinke, Naldo, Pasanen, Owomoyela, Borowski, Baumann, Diego, Fritz, Frings, Hunt, Klose, Almeida, Vranjes, Bischoff, Polenz, Schindler.

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