Bundesliga: Werder coach criticizes his team: Far too little

Werder Bremen’s coach Ole Werner did not want to gloss over his team’s sometimes disastrous performance in the 2:4 (0:2) defeat at newly promoted Darmstadt 98.

“We weren’t on the pitch in terms of resistance, emotionality and intensity. We never found an answer to an early setback. That’s totally disappointing and far too little to play Bundesliga football,” Werner said vigorously Criticism of his team and added: “Of course it annoys me because this is the key to everything you do.”

Bremen, who had continued to be unsuccessful abroad this season, only woke up in the last 20 minutes of the game – at that point they were already 4-0 behind. “We are all very angry and disappointed,” said Bremen’s professional boss Clemens Fritz, criticizing the Green-Whites’ weak performance: “The performance in the first 70 minutes is not what we expect. Lack of intensity, lack of speed of action, lack of sharpness in duels – You can’t win a game like that.” Fritz announced: “We have to work through this.”

Neither those in charge nor the players had an explanation for the weakness away from home this season. Werder had previously lost to the other newly promoted team 1. FC Heidenheim (2:4) and to SC Freiburg (0:1). “Darmstadt were two levels higher in terms of their basic attitude and willingness to run. I think we have to apologize to the fans,” said defender Milos Veljkovic.

With six points from six games, Bremen have to look down the table early in the season. “If you don’t get the basics, it will be difficult,” said Fritz and, with regard to the extreme fluctuations in performance, demanded: “We have to stop that as quickly as possible.” Coach Werner therefore gave the route: “We have to develop stability as a team. That is our main task.”