Ailton, Marco Bode, Wynton Rufer, or current player Claudio Pizarro – SV Werder Bremen have boasted some exceptional strikers in the past, all of whom played a big part in the club’s success stories. But who will follow in their footsteps? "In Niclas Füllkrug, Yuya Osako and Martin Harnik, we have three players whose strengths lie in the centre-forward role," said the 36-year-old head coach, before adding: "So we will apply them accordingly." It is important to integrate these players into the Werder system and to be able to use them flexibly. Whether this should be achieved through a chip, a long ball, or combination play, Kohfeldt does not wish to disclose.
However, in order to be successful, fitness levels and defensive work have to be right as well. The 49 goals Werder conceded last season were "a bit too much" for Kohfeldt’s liking. So the plan for the ten days in Zillertal is to work intensely on these aspects as well. Last but not least, as has been the case in the previous week of training, the coaches will run sessions with a view to build up the players’ athleticism. "We want to be sharper, both going forward and at the back," said the head coach, who has a clear plan: More time in the final third for more goals, introduce a proper striker into the system and be more compact in defence. Off to work!