Saturday, 22.05.2004 marks the final match day of a phenomenal Werder season and when the new German champions take to the field against Hansa Rostock at 3:30pm then they will have only one thing in mind: Honour!! Werder will not want of last weeks disasterous 2:6 thrashing at the hands of Bayer Leverkusen.

"The players have no excuses, we've partied enough and we've got the shield in our possession, in Rostock I expect my team to show their true ability", is the feeling of coach Thomas Schaaf and his players are surely also determined to bury the memory of last weeks performance. "A situation like that against Leverkusen will not recur, we were simply lacking concentration", was the opinion of Tim Borowski concerning last weeks heavy defeat: "At the start of the second half we played the kind of football which we've presented all season and we intend to perform in this manner against Rostock." Werders midfield man isn't yet thinking about the forthcoming cup final: "The final is a long way off and a totally different competition, in Rostock it's about capping a fantastic season on a positive note."

Hansa Without Rydlewicz and Madsen

Hansa achieved their pre season goal of staying in the top flight on match day 32. Trainer Juri Schlünz, whos side have proved a big draw on the Baltic sea, have performed solidly all season. A repetitively weak form at home proved Hansas downfall in a season that could have provided more than "just" a place in midtable.

One player above all has spent this season in the headlines: Martin Max. Not only is the striker in third place in the top striker list with 20 goals but his 28 points in the scorer list puts him in second place behind Ailton. Another of the "Hansa-Knogge" is midfielder Rene Rydlewicz who will miss Saturdays game having picked up his fifth yellow card last week. Defender Madsen will also have to sit this one out having seen red in last weeks 0:4 defeat at the hands of Cologne which means trainer Juri Schlünz will have to juggle things aroud a little.

Davalas' Season Is Over

The German champions will definatly be missing two players on Saturday. Ümit Davala and Ludovic Magnin. The Turkish internationl is suffering once again froma pubic bone infection. "His season is over", explained Thomas Schaaf. Swiss national Ludovic Magnin will still not be available as he recovers from a partial tendon tear in his thigh but he has restarted on a light training programme.

Angelos Charisteas will possibly return to full team training on Friday after a forced break due to an aductoral problem.