Coach Ole Werner (35) from Werder Bremen has major personnel concerns before the crisis duel with Union Berlin (Saturday, 3:30 p.m./Sky).
Goalkeeper Jiri Pavlenka, central defender Niklas Stark, the two midfielders Christian Groß and Naby Keita are “out,” Werner said on Thursday.
In addition, defensive all-rounder Nicolai Rapp “reported sick” and “will most likely be out.”
However, central defender Amos Pieper was “back on the training pitch” after his muscular problems and is an option for the squad,” said Werner, joking in view of the misery: “Whoever makes it to training is in the squad.”
But even in this situation and after three Bundesliga defeats in a row, it was his job to find “solutions,” said Werner: “It just is the way it is.”
Two wins and six defeats from the first eight Bundesliga games: Werder and Union started the season equally poorly, even the goal difference of minus six is identical.
“Both teams know about their situation and both are dissatisfied with the points they got, but we will look at ourselves,” said Werner.