Looking for Junuzovic replacement

Zlatko Junuzovic will miss a match for the first time in the second half. (Photo: nph)
First Team
Friday, 18.04.2014 / 13:10

Werder head coach Robin Dutt's message from the Thursday's press conference ahead of his team's match against 1899 Hoffenheim was clear. "The guys are burning to...


Werder head coach Robin Dutt's message from the Thursday's press conference ahead of his team's match against 1899 Hoffenheim was clear. "The guys are burning to play on Saturday." The 49-year-old Dutt was talking about his impressions of training during the week. But Zlatko Junuzovic will not be available as the Austrian will miss the match due to his fifth yellow card. One thing is certain, the injured Felix Kroos, Aleksandar Ignjovski, Özkan Yildirim and Levent Aycicek will not be able to replace Junuzovic. That means another replacement must be found. Could Theodor Gebre Selassie be a possibility?

"It hurts a lot that ‘Juno' will be out on Saturday. In both of the matches before the Mainz game, he was an important component in the improved balance between offence and defence. We have not yet made a final decision on who will fill his role against Hoffenheim. I will observe the remaining training sessions and analyse the last couple of matches," said Dutt.

"Can play everywhere except in goal"

Theodor Gebre Selassie was among the two or three options that Dutt mentioned. ‘Theo', as the Czech international is nicknamed along the Weser, is the all-arounder for the Green-Whites. This season, he has played both on the left and right sides of the defence as well as seven times at right midfield. "Theo can play on the outside but also in the midfield. He impressed me a lot with his appearances in the midfield because he has a certain quickness, pushes forward quickly and is dangerous up front," said Dutt about the Czech with Ethiopia roots.

But the Werder coach does not see Gebre Selassie solely in a defensive role. "With his certainty with the ball, I could even imagine him as a striker. Actually he can play everywhere except in goal. In the first half of the season, I asked him once at training if he could play centre back but he ran away quickly. I interpret that that I shouldn't come up with any dumb ideas," said the coach with a smile.

In less than 24 hours, ‘Theo' will know if he can play in the right midfield or not. But he certainly knows that Dutt will not put him in as centre back.

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