Former cup winner and champion player Ivan Klasnic commented on the current situation at his former club Werder Bremen, stood up for the stumbling Victor Boniface and highlighted a “work machine” at SVW.
Ivan Klasnic used to score goals for Werder Bremen, scoring 77 in 205 games for the green-whites, and also scored more than 40 goals, making a significant contribution to the double win in 2003/04, the greatest success in the Weser club’s history.
Today the former striker, who is still part of the legendary SVW team, looks from the outside at what is happening at Werder and of course also closely at the situation of the attackers.
Summer newcomer Victor Boniface continues to struggle here. The 24-year-old has remained goalless so far. Klasnic is still a fan.
“I think a lot of Boniface,” said the Croatian at “Bild” and added: “He deserves more time. You shouldn’t pick on him, but give him space and trust him.” Klasnic’s prediction for Boniface: “If he feels comfortable, he will pop.”
Boniface is on loan from Bayer Leverkusen to the Green-Whites until next summer.
Klasnic: This Werder star was very unlucky
Just like the loan player, Keke Topp is still without a goal this season. The striker, who went through the youth departments of SVW and returned to the Weser in the summer of 2024 after a time at Schalke, has recently been preferred to Boniface a few times.
“Keke is a work machine and has had a lot of bad luck recently,” analyzed Klasnic and gave Werder coach Horst Steffen some advice: “Why not play with both strikers and surprise the opponent?” Klasnic himself played alongside strike partner Ailton for a long time in Bremen.
Either way: The Croatian is convinced: “It will happen that both will score.”
In the end, coach Steffen, who “makes a good impression,” continued Klasnic: “He exudes great composure.”
This could also be the winning formula for the derby against HSV on Sunday (3:30 p.m.). “I see both teams on equal terms, with Werder having a slight advantage. It will be a close game, hopefully with a win for us,” said the Hamburg native, whose heart lies with SVW.