Ever valuable Bremen
© Imago
Victor Boniface to Werder Bremen – that was one of the biggest surprises of this transfer summer. In the game at Borussia Mönchengladbach (Sunday, 5:30 p.m./DAZN), the former master striker of Bayer Leverkusen is now to give his Bundesliga debut for the green and white. “One who can play football will certainly raise the level. I have great hope that this will be visible and that we have committed a great footballer,” said coach Horst Steffen about the 24-year-old Nigerian. “You can see it again and again when moves and movements are there that I don’t know: they are exceptionally good. I am very happy.”
With all the potential that Boniface brings: two points after this rental business also caused skepticism among the Werder fans: Is the attacker fit enough after numerous injury problems? And is he fully involved in a mid-range club like the Bremener if he was standing this year before moving to AC Milan and a 70 million euro transfer to Saudi Arabia?
Steffen tried to invalidate both days before the game at his press conference. “He is well received here. I like him. I look forward to working. With a taxation of 40 million euros, Boniface has been the most valuable Bremener since 2004 – the year as a transfer market has introduced market values. For comparison: The average market value at SV Werder is currently 6.3 million euros.
Steffen said: “So far he can participate.” And: “I think that he presents himself better from day to day. I will not reveal how much playing time he gets. In any case, I reveal that he will sit on the bus towards Mönchengladbach.” Even in the opponent’s squad, none is almost as valuable as Boniface.
Werder Bremen: Personnel position before game in Gladbach
The Boniface Transfer and the successful catch-up against Bayer Leverkusen (3: 3) before the international break have noticeably changed the tense atmosphere in Bremen. The personnel position in the defense still remains delicate. On Sunday, too, six injuries or suspended defensive players will still be missing on Sunday.
Basically, the late commitments from Boniface, Cameron Puertas, Isaac Schmidt and Yukinari Sugawara give the trainer more opportunities. “I had already said: If the transfer window closes, it will certainly be good for us,” said Steffen. “That the uncertainty falls away, who comes and who goes. That we know which group is now working together. That we know what quality is there. And we have certainly been able to get quality again in the past few days. Basically, I am very happy with our squad what it looks like now.”