Werder Bremen got off to a bad start in the new season. The embarrassing end of the DFB Cup at third division Viktoria Köln was followed by a clear 0: 4 in the Bundesliga opener against FC Bayern. In the case of the Hanseatic League, it is currently wrong at the back and front – also because public transfer promises have not been kept.
Hangover on the Weser: Although the 2023/2024 season has only just begun, Werder Bremen is already on the brink of the first crisis.
2: 3 against Viktoria Cologne, 0: 4 against FC Bayern – especially the defensive of the green-whites is still in the summer break. This continues the threatening trend of the past back series, when SVW had collected the fewest points together with relegated Hertha BSC.
After the package in the first Bundesliga game, coach Ole Werner seemed noticeably irritated in the following interviews, the 35-year-old repeatedly pointed out the unfinished squad, which offers him few alternatives, especially on the defensive flanks.
“Then strikers defend in their own penalty area, that’s difficult,” said Werner at “DAZN”, alluding to the substitution of Oliver Burke, who had to step in for Mitchell Weiser at the back right and revealed enormous problems in an unfamiliar position.
Tough transfer period at Werder Bremen
Werner’s statements could certainly be interpreted as pointing the way to his superiors. The sporting leadership around Frank Baumann and Clemens Fritz is finding it remarkably difficult to land the urgently needed reinforcements.
With the commitment of Naby Keita, who came to Bremen from Liverpool on a free transfer, the Green-Whites made a big statement early in the transfer period.
However, that was two and a half months ago. In the meantime, Keita got injured so badly that he missed all preparation and the first competitive games. At the same time, efforts to attract more newcomers to Werder stalled massively, only the Belgian Senne Lynen came into the midfield.
Werder Bremen: Baumann statements cause irritation
Gallows humor has long dominated in fan circles, old quotes fly around Baumann and Co.’s ears. In addition to the prayer wheel-like references to the extremely limited financial possibilities, the strange statements made by Lee Buchanan before the sale are dissected in many places.
A few days before the left-back’s EUR 1.5 million move to Birmingham City, Baumann had assured Deichstube: “After the injuries to Mitchell Weiser and Felix Agu, we can’t give up another winger without a replacement having been signed beforehand. “
It was similar in the “image”: “We need a replacement. That is the condition for us to let the player go.”
The end of the story: Buchanan was allowed to go without a direct successor in the hindquarters, four weeks later (!) still no competitor has been brought in for the slightly aging Anthony Jung.
It’s no wonder that many supporters feel fooled and are rather skeptical about the transfer’s final sprint to deadline day on September 1st.
If the third competitive game of the young season on Saturday at SC Freiburg also goes wrong, the mood on the Weser could change forever.