Werder Bremen have their work cut out for them in the UEFA Cup semi final second leg tie against Espanyol Barcelona. The bitter 3:0 defeat in Spain last Thursday night has left the German side with a proverbial mountain to climb if they are to turn the tie and make it through to the UEFA Cup final in Glasgow. Tomas Schaaf though, has been involved in all four “Werder-Sensations” and is something of a veteran in making the impossible, possible. “A difficult situation is always the prerequisite for a wonder. You have to be alert and prepared, everything has to work”, explained Thomas Schaaf and has gained in experience from Werder’s past history: “It shows that everything is possible.”

Creating a sensation will be no easy task for Werder Bremen and their trainer who is without his first choice goalkeeper Tim Wiese and full-back Clemens Fritz. If it is any consolation, the Barcelona club are also missing a number of their first choice players. Ivan de la Pena, who was involved in two of the goals in the first leg, has had to pull out with a muscle injury. Schaaf is still wary of the Spaniards strength: “Espanyol are in very good condition. De la Pena is not there but Garcia is and he is just as capable of producing.” Werder would appear to be better off focusing on their own strengths. The first leg defeat was a shock to the Werder system and the match on Thursday is all about saving face: “It’s getting to everyone that we couldn’t avoid such a result. We know we’ve got things to make up for. We will have to drastically improve on the performance from the first leg. We have no need to be nervous, just get stuck in.”

All out attack from the outset carries a great deal of danger too. If Werder were to concede a goal on Thursday night, they would need to score five if they were to progress to the final. “We know we need to get an early goal. That would be the optimal situation but a game consists of 90 minutes. Conceding a goal would make life very difficult for us. We will go into the game relaxed and concentrated”, promised Werder playmaker Diego at the press conference on Wednesday evening and went on to comment on how he sees his side’s chances: “Of course it will be difficult but certainly not impossible. We have faith in our team and believe that we can do it.”

On the way to achieving a new “Werder-Wonder”, the home team can strike at least one precarious subject from the list. Miroslav Klose will see out his contract until 2008 in Bremen and has now stilled the speculation around his expected transfer. ‘Miro’ now wishes to concentrate fully on his tasks in Bremen and is hoping for the support of the fans in a difficult second leg tie: “It’s important that the spectators urge us forward. We believe we can win but we could do with the fans behind us.”

The following 18 players will make up the squad for the all important second leg tie: Reinke, Vander, Owomoyela, Naldo, Pasanen, Schulz, Wome, Baumann, Vranjes, Jensen, Frings, Diego, Klose, Hunt, Almeida, Bischoff, Schindler, Polenz.