SVW will host VfL Bochum on Saturday (25/02) at 15:30 CET. This is SVW’s next chance to pick up important points in the fight to stay in the Bundesliga. Head coach Ole Werner answered questions at the pre-match press conference on how SVW can win the match, who is particularly important in the squad and how much a lack of courage contributed to the latest results.
After opening the media session with the good news that the wohninvest WESERSTADION will be sold out, Ole Werner was forced to dampen the mood. Mitchell Weiser, who returned to the pitch on Thursday with individual training, will not be in the squad on Saturday. “It is too early for Mitchell to play against Bochum,” revealed the head coach. “The same goes for Felix Agu, Manuel Mbom and Dikeni Salifou. In addition, Niklas Stark is serving a yellow card suspended,” said Werner, rounding off the squad update before matchday 22.
But the manager could also give a positive update on the squad. On Thursday, SVW announced Anthony Jung’s contract extension. The defender will continue to play in Green and White. “Tony is a very reliable player for us, who almost always performs at a consistent level and gives us a physical presence, which is very good for us as a newly promoted team,” said Werner, pleased about the continuation of their work together. “He has also shown that he can add something to our attacking game and is an important player to have in the dressing room.”
Ole Werner would like to see more attacking impetus in Saturday’s match. Recently, there had been talk about a lack of courage in Werder’s attacking play, but for the head coach the root of the problem lies elsewhere. “Courage is one thing, but I think we have to say that we were just poor against Frankfurt,” the 34-year-old said in sober assessment of his team’s performance against Frankfurt. “When certain things don’t work, it doesn’t usually give you more courage. What you need then is to be active, and we talked about that afterwards, but we have to play with a different quality regardless of that. That way, we can also work on moments when we are playing with confidence,” said Werner, referring to the next match.
Werder will welcome VfL Bochum, an opponent who is also looking to gain points in the relegation battle. “Under their new coach, they play with lots of intensity and aggression all over the pitch in both home and away games,” said Werner on the strengths of the team in 16th place. “We have to make quick decisions and be committed to work hard to create spaces. Bochum also use a lot of long balls, have good target men and pace up top.”
Nevertheless, the Werder head coach does not give this encounter any special significance in the context of the season. “There are still 12 games to go after this, so there’s no need to put too much pressure on this or to look at the table, because that isn’t very significant for this match,” said Werner explaining his view. “Both teams will go into the game to win it, and the possibility to go up or down will still be open for both teams depending on the outcome.” Of course, the hosts still have their sights set on victory at a sold-out home ground. “Our approach is based on considering exactly how we can win the match, and that’s why, as goes for our opponents, we will play to win.”
