Thomas Schaaf and Werder Bremen are "inseparably connected with one another". Those are the words that Rouven Schröder, director of roster planning and scouting, used at the Friday pre-match press conference to make clear why the...
Thomas Schaaf and Werder Bremen are "inseparably connected with one another". Those are the words that Rouven Schröder, director of roster planning and scouting, used at the Friday pre-match press conference to make clear why the...
Thomas Schaaf and Werder Bremen are "inseparably connected with one another". Those are the words that Rouven Schröder, director of roster planning and scouting, used at the Friday pre-match press conference to make clear why the reunion on Sunday has brought about such a media whirlwind. Schaaf was with the club for 41 years, 14 of those as head coach of the Green-Whites. During this time, the current Frankfurt coach also coached Viktor Skripnik, the man who now holds the reins for SVW. But while everyone else talks about a special meeting, Skripnik and Schaaf don't want to exchange words until after the match.
"Of course I am looking forward to seeing Thomas," said Skripnik. But in the end, he said it's just a normal Bundesliga match. "We are professionals. Everyone wants to win the game for themselves. Afterwards we can talk shop," said Skripnik, who said he is a bit excited but only because "every opponent is new for me and I am looking forward to the arena. I have never been there before."
Who will give whom the winning tactics after the match is entirely open. The only thing set is that Schaaf has an advantage because of his long Bremen past. At least that's how Skripnik sees it. "He knows our players well, also character-wise. After all, Thomas acquired most of them. That can be an advantage for him," said Skripnik. But the coach doesn't think he gains much from having played for Schaaf. "I know how he prepares his teams before a game whether it's against a stronger or supposedly weaker opponent. But that was a long time ago. Torsten Frings knows him better. After all, he played a couple more years longer for Thomas than I did." That makes it all the better that Frings is his assistant coach.
Still, Skripnik is hoping to find the recipe for three points in his own team. "We have to go to the limit from the first minute on," said the Ukrainian. Skripnik said he has most of his starting line-up already in mind. "One position is still unclear. Otherwise I'm certain about the rest." There won't be any major surprises before kick-off on Sunday. After all, "we know that Thomas knows what we know." That's knowing one another.
