With the third win in the third match under coach Ole Werner, SV Werder Bremen have reduced the gap to the relegation place to one point. The sporting director praises – and encourages the professionals in their personal ambitions.
Frank Baumann had just finished his first public assessment of Ole Werner as SV Werder Bremen’s new coach in a small circle of journalists when he cleared his throat. With a grin hidden behind his FFP2 mask, he had something to add: “That’s the bar now, that the points average stays the same in the second half of the season.” Three games under Werner, three wins for Werder – so the Bremen sporting director could obviously get used to that.
It remains to be seen how long this flawless series can continue in 2022. In any case, the omens are favourable, and Werner will have the opportunity to influence his team more intensively during the upcoming winter break. At the beginning of January, Werder will fly to Murcia for a week’s training camp.
The Bremen team dominated the games against Aue, Regensburg and now Hannover – with a largely structured play from back to front. The high pressing led to a lot of ball wins. And to eleven goals in three games.
Werner “a little bit euphoric “
No reason for excessive euphoria for Werner, however. “I can’t do anything with the term alone,” says the coach, “but if euphoria leads us to approach things positively and with self-confidence, then I have nothing against it. Then maybe I’m a little bit euphoric myself.”
Sporting director Baumann attributes the recent development under Werner to “his approach in the first few days”, but also to the team that “found itself” around the departure of former coach Markus Anfang.
The fact that Werner was able to continue the similar style of play of his predecessor was also “helpful” – and yet he explicitly praises the 33-year-old: “Ole did a good and confident job. The team noticed very quickly that he is good at communicating. That is also one of his strengths,” Baumann said. “It is always important to strengthen confidence and conviction in a path through results. That worked out quite well. “
So will this path possibly lead to promotion again in the end? “It’s nice that we’re back within reach of the relegation places,” explains Baumann, but he also points to the even greater gap between first FC St. Pauli (seven points) and second SV Darmstadt 98 (six). In any case, it is quite possible that Werder will start the games in 2021 with an adjusted season goal. Internally, this is being discussed; up to now, the team has been completely free of any target finishes at the end of the season.
Baumann: “It’s certainly not negative “
But after several Bremen players have already openly expressed their ambitions recently, the Werder sporting director is now reinforcing this approach: “We want to be ambitious and want to have ambitious players. That’s why it’s no problem if more and more players declare promotion as their goal. That’s certainly not negative,” Baumann says: “What’s important is that they work towards it.” Incidentally, Werner also sees it that way, wanting to continue to focus on “work and development”. After three victories, the bar is – as mentioned – quite high.
