Following the Bundesliga away match in Berlin on Sunday evening, only the players who did not play or made only short appearances took part in a relaxed training Monday morning. Among them were the trio of Diego, Mesut Özil and Sebastian Boenisch, who could not practice in the final training before the Hertha game and missed the contest.

Assistant coach Wolfgang Rolff said the trio were not able to go on the weekend. "We did not rest any player in Berlin. How we played was the best team we had available," said Rolff. When asked if the trio will be able to play in the German DFB Cup semi-final on Wednesday in Hamburg, Rolff said he doesn't want to jump ahead of himself but he is optimistic.

Mesut Özil confirmed his coach and said it looks "better" that he can play. Werder's top playmaker Diego also appears to have recovered from his thigh muscle problem. And Sebastian Boenisch is also hoping to play against Hamburg. While that trio is on the path to improvement, Petri Pasanen also returned to team training after his Achilles tendon concern. But things look bleaker for Aaron Hunt. "He presumably will not play on Wednesday. He has a ligament or ankle injury. Right now, I assume that he will miss seven to 10 days," said assistant Rolff.