Ten games without a win
Coach on the verge of elimination: Werder boss avoids confession
January 31, 2026 – 7:34 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
After the 1-1 draw against Borussia Mönchengladbach, Horst Steffen’s coaching chair at Werder Bremen is wobbling worryingly. Sports managing director Clemens Fritz sends clear signals.
The future of Werder Bremen coach Horst Steffen is in jeopardy after the 1-1 draw against Borussia Mönchengladbach and ten games without a win in a row. For the first time, sports director Clemens Fritz avoided a clear commitment to the 56-year-old coach and instead announced a thorough assessment of the situation.
Table 14. The Bundesliga was unable to make any significant progress in the fight against relegation with the draw. Striker Keke Topp only scored the equalizer in the 94th minute.
“We’ll let this sink in now. Then we’ll sit down together and analyze it. It’s important that we sort this out for ourselves first,” explained Fritz after the game. The Werder managing director emphasized the need for a discussion: “We haven’t won ten games. It’s clear that we have to sit down and discuss it.”
The sports boss also sees positive aspects despite the crisis: “I also saw the unity of the team. But it’s only one point. You won’t make any big leaps with it.” Werder celebrated their last win in the Bundesliga on November 7th against VfL Wolfsburg (2-1), followed by six defeats and four draws.
Coach Steffen continues to be combative and does not want to give up his position. “I feel good and am ready to continue to take on this task and serve the club. That’s what I can say. Anything else is out of my scope,” emphasized the 56-year-old. The coach referred to his intact relationship with the team: “We can look each other in the eye. I think the way we defended ourselves today speaks for itself.”
The ongoing misery has now also affected those around the four-time German champions. Before the encounter against Gladbach, supporters started an internet petition with the aim of overthrowing sports director Fritz. “I think it’s normal. The fact that the criticism is getting bigger is part of it,” Fritz said before the game on DAZN about the protests.
