SV Werder have to wait 16 days from the 2-2 draw in Gladbach for their next Bundesliga game. SVW take on TSG Hoffenheim to round off Bundesliga matchday 26 (Sun, 02/04, 17.30 CEST). This is a period of time that Ole Werner wants to make the most of despite having a reduced squad because of international call-ups.
Having picked up a last-minute point in Gladbach, the Green-Whites are starting the training week in a positive mood. "It's always good to have a sense of achievement before the break,” said Werner outlining the team’s position ahead of the international break. Injuries and illness meant the squad was a bit stretched for the game against Gladbach, and there were changes to the starting eleven, with Fabio Chiarodia and Michael Zetterer celebrating their first starts in the Bundesliga. “The game in Gladbach showed that the boys that haven’t played as much recently can hold their own in the Bundesliga,” said a pleased Werder head coach. “It was a good reaction despite the injury sitation and the two games lost just before. It gives us confidence for the last nine games."
The international break will now be used for recovery. The players that have recently been out should also now have time to catch up on necessary training. “We now have a normal week of training until Friday,” explained Werner, “even if it is with reduced numbers because of those travelling on international duty.” The head coach would like to work with this smaller training group in the coming week on things like runs in behind and structure in possession, followed by preparation for the game against Hoffenheim. The length of the training week ahead of the game, which is on a Sunday, plays into Werder’s hands. “The boys that are here will then have exactly the same load as those on international duty. So we will still have enough time to work with those coming back for the game against Hoffenheim.”
There is no friendly scheduled for this Bundesliga break. Among other things, Werner outlined that the current size of the squad meant there wouldn’t be a friendly. “Everything has to fit together for a friendly to make sense.” The SVW coach also highlighted how important it was for players who had not been out injured but were carry “niggles” to be able to get over these. “Because of that we decided against it. With a lot of injuries and people out ill it was the right decision. We would not have been able to carry out a decent standard friendly.”
