Last place in annual table
Coach Ole Werner sees Werder Bremen doing within their capabilities despite the last place in the 2023 annual table. “It was when we signed and it is now very clear to everyone that the path in the Bundesliga over the next few years will be a huge challenge,” explained the 35-year-old in an interview with “Kicker”. “And that the summer transfer period in particular would be very challenging because income was of great necessity. We were also aware at the time that these transfers could only happen very late.”
Of all the teams with at least 26 games in the upper house, the Green-Whites have the weakest record this year: six wins and three draws with 17 defeats – just 21 points. “That’s all well and good, but what does this table say? We ended up 13th last season and are now in 14th place,” explained Werner, referring to the thin staffing levels. But the coach also said: “That can’t be our claim. And yet it has been enough to put a club that was relegated two years ago into a position where things can be built on; although it’s not always easy.”
In terms of squad value – Werder comes in at 91.3 million euros – only VfL Bochum (55.8 million euros) and the promoted teams SV Darmstadt 98 (32.8 million euros) and 1. FC Heidenheim (29 million euros) are ranked ) even weaker there. Shortly before the transfer deadline, top scorer Niclas Füllkrug (30) moved to Borussia Dortmund for 13 million euros. The deal increased revenue to just under 27 million euros – compared to summer expenses of 6 million euros.
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“We have a powerful team when everyone is there and integrated. Whether the squad is better or worse (than last year; editor)? Such comparisons don’t count for me,” said Werner. “I have to find solutions with the players who are here now and I think we can do that. Of course, Niclas took up a lot of space for us – filling it up differently is a process.” The star signing was midfielder Naby Keïta (28), who was brought in from Liverpool on a free transfer, but he was out again due to injury and was therefore unable to provide reinforcement.
Werder Bremen: Coach Ole Werner has the trust of Frank Baumann
There is still no established hierarchy in the Bremen team. “But that’s also normal when you still have so much movement in the squad at the back. “It develops over the course of a season, and we have enough players who can and want to take responsibility – despite all that, it still has to be found,” said the coach, who took over at SVW at the end of November 2021 and has had 1.4 points since then per game.
Most recently, sports director Frank Baumann supported Werner, who was contractually bound until 2026. “It’s not an issue at all – and it won’t become an issue for us either. We are convinced of him. In the almost two years that he has been with us, Ole Werner has achieved his respective goals under the most difficult conditions. He will do that this season too,” the 47-year-old told “Sport Bild”. Werner now explained: “With our financial possibilities, it’s not really surprising that it’s about playing in this league again next year.”
Werder Bremen’s Clemens Fritz in the Transfermarkt interview (September 2023)
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