“Interesting squad”

A chat among compatriots: Özkan Yildirim talks with Mehmet Ekici – both will be responsible for Werder’s creative positions.
First Team
Wednesday, 29.06.2011 / 16:59

A new transfer rumour and a still striking injury list could not muddy the optimism of the sports bosses at the start of training on Wednesday. The Werder Mission 2011-12 has started and it should lead to success. "We want to work harder on brining...

A new transfer rumour and a still striking injury list could not muddy the optimism of the sports bosses at the start of training on Wednesday. The Werder Mission 2011-12 has started and it should lead to success. "We want to work harder on brining the positive to the forefront," said manager Klaus Allofs at the start of the preparations.

The Green-Whites squad has seen some more movement. Head coach Thomas Schaaf and Allofs Wednesday morning presented the newest face in the Werder group - as U19 player Özkan Yildirim was officially presented with all of the other new acquisitions. He received a two-year contract until 30 June 2013. Mehmet Ekici meanwhile has plenty more experience. And there are pretty high expectations on him. "He is further along than Mesut Özil was when he first got to us. Özil had only had a couple of Bundesliga appearances while Mehmet Ekici has already one season behind him as leading player," said Allofs. "Mehmet is the type of player who embodies everything that has made us strong in the past. He enjoys passing, can implement things quickly and also looks to shoot himself. Of course, he is still a young man. But he has so much self-confidence which will help improve our game," said Schaaf.

All told, Allofs is taken with the current status of the squad. "It's clear that there will still be changes, but we already have a very interesting team," said Allofs. Clemens Fritz added: "We have good new acquisitions among our ranks. They have already in part proven that they are good footballers and will strengthen us."

The Werder Bremen chapter for one player is over with though as SVW and Said Husejinovic have parted ways. "We told Said already at the end of last season that we are not planning with him any more and that he will not belong to the professional squad," said Allofs. "I am in contact with his agent and there are positive signs that something will happen in the coming days."

As expected, the plans for the squad are not yet complete. Allofs confirmed today interest in Nuremberg captain Andreas Wolf. "That is one of the players who have been announced recently in the media as a new acquisition without the deal being done. It was said that he will be arriving here in the coming days. But that is not the case," said Allofs. "But we are looking for a centre back. He is free of transfer fee and on the market. That makes him interesting for us and we are in talks."

A Wolf signing would be an enrichment for the Bremen defence, which is dealing with a shortage as Sebastian Prödl and Per Mertesacker still cannot train at the moment and the situation with Naldo is that he is still in Brazil at the moment and that perhaps he can join the team in Donaueschingen.

 

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