After two defeats in a row, Werder Bremen have lost contact with the top. With 1. FC Heidenheim, coach Markus Anfang expects a self-confident opponent on Friday evening (18.30, LIVE! at kicker.de)
Heidenheim are where SVW would certainly like to be in the table: In third place, to which the team from the Ostalb has climbed with an interim spurt of three wins in a row. Almost traditionally, the FCH play a good role, which demands respect from Anfang: “They have a certain stability, so they have been up there for years. Of course they want to win the game, they won’t let themselves get rattled and they know their strengths. That’s how they will perform,” the Werder coach said at Thursday’s press conference.
Weserstadion not yet a fortress
But Bremen, who are four points behind the Swabian visitors with eleven points, also want to win at home in the Weserstadion, where the yield has been meagre so far (1/1/2). After two recent defeats and 0:5 goals, the team also needs to make changes, but personnel alternatives remain scarce. Anfang: “Ömer Toprak, Christian Groß and Nick Woltemade will still be absent. The likelihood of Leonard Bittencourt playing remains low.” There is some hope for Felix Agu. “If everything goes well in training today, he could be an option for the squad,” said the 47-year-old, who had already rejected a system change to two strikers from the start during the week.
Starting and also Fritz take the players to task
Absolutely positive was Anfang’s assessment of the development in spectator capacity, for the first time since February 2020 a capacity of up to 42,100 spectators is possible again due to the switch to the 2G concept. “It’s nice that it’s developing in this direction. We are grateful for every fan and now it will be up to us tomorrow to take the fans with us and provide a positive atmosphere accordingly.”
Bremen’s head of professional football, Clemens Fritz, who attended the press conference, added: “It is simply a special atmosphere when the Ultras are back in the stadium. Even as a player, it can give you a kick.” He echoed his coach’s sentiments and took the professionals to task: “We have a responsibility to let the spark fly from the pitch to the stands. “