With their desolate performance in Darmstadt, Werder had their worst start to the season in six years. The only thing that gave hope was Naby Keita’s cameo appearance.
It wasn’t exactly easy to find anything positive about Werder’s performance in Darmstadt. After Heidenheim, Bremen also embarrassed themselves at the next Bundesliga promoted team, conceding four goals again.
And had the worst start to the season in six years. Werder started the 2017/18 season with three defeats and three draws. Now there are two wins and four defeats. Plus the cup exit in round one.
In terms of basic attitude and willingness to run, Darmstadt was two levels higher. I think we have to apologize to the fans.
(Werder defender Milos Veljkovic)
Werder’s sporting director Clemens Fritz also saw his team’s “worst game of the season”, as he explained in an interview with buten un binnen. “Of course we were angry and disappointed. That shouldn’t happen to us. But we have to put it aside and look forward.”
“Don’t put all the burden on Naby’s shoulders”
Werder’s sporting director Clemens Fritz urges patience with the long-injured Naby Keita.
However, with six points after six games, these prospects as twelfth in the table are more than bleak. The only bright spot is Naby Keita. Werder’s top transfer was allowed to play for 21 minutes after his brief appearance against Cologne a week ago – and immediately breathed some life into the anemic Bremen team.
“Naby is a player who has very high quality,” emphasized Fritz, and Keita had already proven that with his brilliant pass that opened the scoring 2-4 through Milos Veljkovic. The presence that Werder’s top transfer from Liverpool brings with it stands out and gives Bremen fans in particular hope for improvement. Keita, the Werder savior?
That’s the key, not to put all the burden on Naby’s shoulders. But also to give him the chance to develop so that he gets his optimal playing fitness and rhythm.
(Werder’s sporting director Clemens Fritz at buten and within)
Werder currently has a lot of construction sites
The impatience is great and the longing for the green and white savior. But Keita was injured in the summer and missed all of the preparation with his new teammates. That’s also why Fritz is slowing down: “I ask for your understanding: We have to build Naby up gradually. It was very positive that he was able to play for half an hour. But we mustn’t forget how long he was out for before.”
Keita should fix it, but even from a particularly gifted player like him that’s asking a bit much. There is still too much trouble at Werder at the moment. The team has not yet found each other in the last four weeks since the end of the transfer phase. Automatisms don’t work and the team regularly collapses when there are setbacks. The workload seems manageable for some people. And the defense is wobbling worryingly.
One player alone won’t be able to fix it. Every individual is challenged. Saying ‘Naby will sort things out for us soon’ won’t work.
(Werder’s sporting director Clemens Fritz)
Will Keita be in the starting line-up against Hoffenheim?
Nevertheless, the expectations of Keita are huge. Ideally, the offensive player should be involved right from the start in the duel with Hoffenheim on Saturday evening at 6:30 p.m. But Werder slows down. You don’t want to risk anything with your hopeful, because he’ll only be of use to you if he’s 100 percent fit.
“We’ll see. It’s always the question of how Naby can cope with a game like today and get through the week afterwards,” explained Ole Werner. And there are eleven other players who have something to make amends for after the debacle in Darmstadt.
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Sportblitz, October 2, 2023, 6:06 p.m
