After two away games on the trot, SV Werder Bremen are finally back at their stomping ground on Sunday, 21st April (15:30 CEST) to take on VfB Stuttgart. Head coach Ole Werner and head of professional football Clemens Fritz were in the mixed zone on Friday afternoon to answer the journalists' questions ahead of the upcoming clash on matchday 30.
Fortunately for the Green-Whites, captain Marco Friedl and defender Anthony Jung’s suspensions have both come to an end, and the pair will be back in action to take on the third-place side this weekend. “They’ve shown us time and time again just how much stability they give the team, particularly due to their leadership roles and quality on the pitch,” explained the 35-year-old head coach. “It’s important for us to have consistency both within our squad and in our performance, so it’s great news that they’re available for the weekend.”
The Green-Whites have now gone seven consecutive games without coming out on top, but are hoping to get back to their winning ways with a victory at the wohninvest WESERSTADION. “Of course it’s disappointing when you lose games,” admitted the head coach. “However, you have to transform that feeling into aggression on the training pitch. We were all fired up this week and focused on the task ahead. But that’s exactly how it needs to be.”
Werner is also fully aware of what his men were lacking in front of the opposition net during their recent games. “In order to pose a threat to goal, we have to be more forceful and assertive, and attack at pace,” he explained. “It’s vital that we play with more energy so that the boys who are able to get shots off can get into goal-scoring positions.” Justin Njinmah, who is an option for Sunday’s squad after recently returning from a spell on the sidelines, is certainly capable of increasing the tempo of the game against VfB with his lightning speed up front.
????️ Ole Werner on the squad:
— SV Werder Bremen EN (@werderbremen_en) April 19, 2024
"Justin Njinmah is back in the running for this weekend. Niklas Stark, Jiri Pavlenka, Amos Pieper and Skelly Alvero are still absent, as well as Isaak Hansen-Aarøen, who will miss the game due to illness."#werder#svwvfbpic.twitter.com/Z7F0Sc8qN4
The Green-Whites will need everything to go their way on Sunday afternoon if they want to put Stuttgart to the sword. VfB have been this season’s surprise package and look set to qualify for the Champions League. “They’re a top side who have a similar playstyle to Leverkusen,” noted Werner. “Both teams try to try to lure the opposition in, create space and carve out situations where they can use their pace to get past the last line of defence. We’re preparing ourselves for them to do exactly that. That being said, there are differences between the sides in terms of personnel, and no two games of football are the exact same.”
