In the midst of this year’s pre-season training camp in Zillerdeich, Werder played their first friendlies of the 2019/20 season in the Zillertal Cup. Florian Kohfeldt’s men got their preparation underway with a win and a loss against WSG Swarovski Tirol and Karlsruher SC respectively.
Werder Starting XI against WSG Swarovski Tirol: Kapino - Augustinsson, Möhwald, Rashica, Osako, Sahin, Moisander, Bartels, Gebre Selassie, Groß und Klaassen.
The game got off to a feisty start, with Theodor Gebre Selassie taking a blow to the head after clashing with an opponent and being replaced by Benjamin Goller. A medical assessment after the game showed that Selassie had sustained no injuries, but caution will nonetheless be taken by the Werder medical team. Kohfeldt’s tactics were clear from the outset, with attacking football, pressing and quick build-up play on show. Chances were few and far between, but Yuya Osako finally poked Werder ahead in the closing stages of the game, heading in from a Nuri Sahin corner.
Werder Starting XI against Karlsruher SC: Plogmann - Beijmo, Harnik, Sargent, Rieckmann, Straudi, Gruev, Philipp, Goller, Wiemann und Pudic.
Kohfeldt fielded a young and inexperienced line-up for Werder’s second game, with seven U23 players making up the XI that took to the pitch to face Karlsruher SC. A first-minute goal from the opponents was a cruel blow that set the tone of the game. Despite Werder being very active in their attacking play, a couple of defensive weaknesses were exposed by Karlsruher, resulting in a 3-0 scoreline.
