The departure of Krisztian Lisztes, following those of Ailton and Mladen Krstajic, marks the loss of another first team regular for Werder Bremen at the end of the current season. Many fans are worried about the future. 'Werder-online.de' spoke with Sport-Director Klaus Allofs and Headcoach Thomas Schaaf about the present situation.

Werder are top of the table in the Bundesliga and have made it into the semi-finals of the DFB-cup. Why, considering such success, have contract talks not been equally sucessful?

Klaus Allofs: Through the teams success, up until now, each individual player has also been valued, the players are sought after by other clubs and their own covetousness begins to increase. Their have been wage demands made which burst the clubs framework and salary restrictions, when these restrictions are not maintained we're just asking for problems. We've made offers which we can justify for both the players and ourselves, if we then can't meet an agreement, we have no choice but to part company.

As is the case with Krisztian Lisztes?

Klaus Allofs: The demands from Krisztian -as of those from Ailton and Mladen Krstajic - we just simply couldn't meet. The sum of money Krisztian wanted to earn with us was not within our capabilities. We considered what the player is worth to us, we then made him a distinctly improved offer that was within Bremens proportions. We can't just levitate ten players to the top earning level.

Thomas Schaaf: We would have liked to have kept Krisztian. Here he has the perfect surroundings, a good team in which he's found his place - But every player has to fit into our budget.

With this in mind, must Werder not accept the accusations of taking too few risks?

Klaus Allofs: It has nothing to do with risk. You can make good money at Werder Bremen! But we can only spend the money that we have available to us. If we were to change our policies we'd find ourselves on the way down very quickly. That's when the fans should start to worry. However, had the money been there, we wouldn't have increased our offer to Krisztian.

Krisztian Lisztes said he would have liked to have had a few more days to think about the offer. Why did he not get them?

Thomas Schaaf: The negotiations have been going on for three months. I think that should be enough time to make a decision. If we'd given him more time and then he declined the offer, everyone would be asking why we didn't react sooner.

We also need a sort of security plan. That's our duty, to make consequent decisions.

Do you think it is possible to find a player of the same value for less money?

Klaus Allofs: Naturally we have alternatives. We've proved that often enough over the last few years. People got just as worked up when Frank Verlaat left. In Ismael we've found a more than worthy replacement.

Thomas Schaaf: It can always happen, that we take a step backwards - But it can also go in the other direction. I'm thinking of Fabian Ernst. He by far exceded our expectations.

But is it not disappointing, always having to construct a new team?

Klaus Allofs: Times have changed! You just can't keep a team together for more than three or four years anymore. And when, then with our perception. We have to reckon with changes too, but they don't have to be bad ones.

Do you share the fans fears, that the team could completely fall apart and that further productive players like Fabian Ernst, Johan Micoud or Frank Baumann could leave the club?

Klaus Allofs: There's no chance of the team falling apart. Up until now three regular players have left the club, we have one new player guaranteed with Fahrenhorst, Nery is close to being the second. There is definitivly enough time to replace any player who leaves. With Micoud, Ernst and Baumann we are talking about what happens within the club. You can never rule out the possibility that we could go our seperate ways, but it really dosen't look that way.

What about Johan Micoud, it has been reported that FC Bayern Munich are interested in Bremens Frenchman.

Klaus Allofs: We will have to expect these "Attempted interferences" from our competitors over the next while. The fact is that Johan has a contract with us until 2005. I've just spoken with Johan personally and he assures me that he feels quite at home in Bremen. We'll be speaking again soon about a contract extension.

How does it look with Ivan Klasnic, according to the media he is in great demand at other clubs?

Klaus Allofs: You shouldn't believe everything you read in the paper. It is of course possible that we don't reach an agreement and that he leaves us, but I think we'll find a positive solution.

And with German International Miroslav Klose, at what stage are negotiations there?

Klaus Allofs: We could do this deal if we knew how we were going to finance it, that's what we're working on at the moment.

Mr. Schaaf, you are a former player now watching this business as a coach. Does the player today just think about money?

Thomas Schaaf: Of course the money plays a big part.Why else would a player leave a club who are top of the league and in the DFB-cup semi-finals? I'm not making any accusations but he should be thinking about what's on top of his list of priorities.