Everything was set up: The white tarp which had been protecting the training grounds from the freezing cold for days was taken off, and then a tractor drove over the pitch to loosen it up. Werder's manager Klaus Allofs and head coach Thomas Schaaf inspected the grounds for half an hour and then gave the green light.

When the Werder players took to the training grounds shortly thereafter they discovered good conditions in light of the freezing temperatures. It was the first session after the last-minute move to Weser Stadium a day earlier. "The ground was not as hard any more. Besides, there were a few spectators more on the grounds. But they could have cheered us on a bit more," joked Aleksandar Ignjovski Thursday afternoon 2 February 2012.

Florian Hartherz and Niclas Füllkrug both missed training Wednesday as the 18-year-olds had school duties to take care of. They made up the missed time in a later session with assistant coach Wolfgang Rolff. "It would have been great if I could have trained in Weser Stadium after my debut against Leverkusen. The grounds there are a dream. But the training grounds are not as bad today. It was softer than usual," said the leftback Hartherz after Thursday afternoon training.

Mehmet Ekici had Werder personnel worried for a minute as the midfielder suddenly fell to the ground after a challenge in the practice match. "I didn't really see it coming. All of a sudden I felt a knock and I got hit on the right ankle. But it is not bad. I will be there on Sunday," said "Memo" on the way to the changing rooms. Ekici received treatment from physiotherapist Holger Berger on the pitch before returning to training shortly thereafter. Christian Vander did not participate in training at all. The Werder keeper remained in bed instead with an angina. Vander will miss the rest of the week and could be out a full week