Anthony Jung on his suspension and the upcoming game against VfB Stuttgart

The red card was a first for Jung, as he had never been sent off in a professional match before Werder’s matchday 27 clash against Wolfsburg. The break from playing was also new to him. “It was strange to have to watch the team on TV. It felt weird to be unable to have a bearing on the action,” said Jung, looking back at the Green-Whites’ last couple of games. “To be honest, I could do without having to go through that again.” This is especially true given that the hiatus knocked Jung off his stride. “I was in my groove and then suddenly I wasn’t, which was all my own fault. That made the situation even more annoying,” explained Jung. That being said, Werder’s number 3 noted that the two weeks away from playing hadn’t gone to waste. “I used the time to recharge my batteries a bit. I want to get back into the swing of things this week and start helping the team out on the pitch again as soon as possible.” 

In order to achieve that, the defender wants to build on Werder’s good performance in the first period in Leverkusen. “The first half was good in terms of our approach and the spirit we showed, and we were also solid at the back from the start. We did a good job of focusing on our own performance,” said Jung. That’s why he doesn’t want his team to just roll over against Stuttgart. “We have to take our chances and play with confidence, both in defence and attack.” Jung also thinks the crowd will provide crucial support. “If we harness the energy that the fans create in every home game, that can drive us,” explained the centre-back, who is confident about the game against VfB. “It’s time for us to pick up some points. Why can’t we do that on Sunday?”