Schaaf: Past record means nothing

SV Werder's record against SC Freiburg could hardly be more impressive as the Green-Whites have collected 18 victories in 26 match-ups without a loss against the team from the Breisgau region in 11 years. But these numbers will mean nothing for Werder head coach Thomas Schaaf when the teams face off again on Wednesday 26 September 2012 at 8 p.m. (live ticker on WERDER.DE starting at 7:45 p.m.). "I am not thinking about the statistics. They can be twisted and turned until they are what you want," said the 51-year-old coach at the press conference after Tuesday's final training.

"We are going into this match highly concentrated. We aren't thinking about our past record. We must find solutions special for this match," said the head coach. Schaaf also praised a Freiburg team which has gone undefeated at home in their last 10 matches - a new club record. "They can pass quickly and have shown some positive signs of late. This will not be easy."

Schaaf made just one change to his roster from the home match against VfB Stuttgart with Felix Kroos replacing the suspended Assani Lukimya for the Freiburg trip. The 21-year-old Kroos was nominated for the Hanover match on the third game day when Sebastian Prödl had to pull out last minute with muscular problems. Schaaf praised the Werder U23 team captain Kroos, who switched positions before the season to centre back. "Felix showed very promising performances in the U23 games and in training, making his way into the team. In the preparations, we had to restructure things a bit and he accepted the new role very well," said the Werder coach.

The following 18 players took off on the plane to Freiburg on Tuesday afternoon: Mielitz, Wolf - Gebre Selassie, Prödl, Sokratis, Kroos, Fritz, Schmitz, Ignjovski, Junuzovic, Bargfrede, Hunt, De Bruyne, Elia, Arnautovic, Petersen, Akpala, Füllkrug.