Focus on individual sessions

Things are quieter on the training grounds at Weser Stadium as a lot fewer players are available. But head coach Thomas Schaaf's team cannot relax. The national team break is no reason to put the feet.

Werder's many international players are on national team duty until the middle of next week but the remaining players were sweating Tuesday morning under Schaaf's watchful eyes. The head coach said the international absentees offered him the chance for individual sessions for those players still in Bremen. Besides the personal drills, it's also positive for the players, Schaaf said, that the small group makes it possible to interact more often during training.

Schaaf was happy about one returnee on Tuesday as Joseph Akpala came back after being given the previous day off from training. On Sunday, Akpala's former club FC Brugges bid him farewell as part of a league match against Standard Liege. "I could say goodbye to the fans," said the Nigerian after his trip back from Belgium. "It was a nice farewell, but now I am concentrating fully on Werder." The 26-year-old was substituted in with four minutes remaining during the North Derby against Hamburg on Saturday, celebrating his debut in Werder dress.

In addition to Akpala, young professional Cimo Röcker also took part in the morning session, completing the 18-man training group at Weser Stadium.