Training without Elia and Petersen

The first training in Donaueschingen took place Monday morning without Nils Petersen and Eljero Elia. Petersen's muscular problems kept him out of Sunday's final of the LIGA total! Cup while Elia is dealing with ankle pain. "Eljero had problems with his foot yesterday. We have no idea in what situation it could have happened. We have to wait now to see how it develops," said Werder head coach Thomas Schaaf.

Petersen meanwhile knows that his injury happened during the tournament. "During the game against Bayern I felt that the muscle tightened up so that we didn't want to risk it any more. I will take it easy the next couple days," said Petersen Sunday evening. His coach offered an update Monday. "With Nils, the muscle is not really co-operating so he had to sit out today," said Schaaf.

Philipp Bargfrede and Cimo Röcker were not yet back at team training but were on the pitch on Monday. Both completed an individual session with athletics trainer Reinhard Schnittker. "With Philipp we have the goal for him to return to team training this week," said Schaaf, hopeful of a return soon for the 23-year-old.

The training - during which the players from the game Sunday against Borussia Dortmund only had a regenerating program - was the start of the third training camp of the season preparations. The Green-Whites will be working this week on the fine-tuning. "We will address some things here. We will be looking at tactics as well as coordination and quickness," said Schaaf Monday afternoon looking forward to the rest of the week.

Manager Klaus Allofs made clear that things would not slow down here. "We will not just easily bring this all to a close but rather we want to continue to develop," said Allofs. The development should begin already this afternoon as team-building measures are on the bill.