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“Everybody needs to be aware of what’s at stake”
HEAD COACH DANIEL THIOUNE AHEAD OF THE GAME AT HOME TO FC BAYERN MÜNCHEN
13/02/26
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Daniel Thioune is standing before a huge undertaking for his home debut as Werder head coach. For the recently appointed head coach, a very special kind of game awaits as he nears his first match in the dugout at the Weserstadion this Saturday, 14th February – record champions FC Bayern München are in town. Ahead of the clash with the league leaders, Thioune discussed...
...his first full week of training: “It’s been just as exciting and intense as it was on day one. I still feel thrilled to be here. The days have been long, what we’ve been doing has been really positive. We looked relatively clear on our patterns of play in training. Everybody’s been really turning up in training. Bayern won’t be an easy challenge. They’ll be unforgiving in punishing us for any little mistake. Now that I’ve had a full week to train with the lads, I can start to make some changes to the side.”
...the upcoming opposition: “When FC Bayern are playing their best game, hardly any team in Europe has a chance at stopping them. You need to have enough luck, but most importantly, a sense of confidence in your own play in order to show what you’re capable of. It will be tough to stop them from doing what they want to do. It’s up to us to play our best game on the day. The lads have to go into every challenge like it’s personal if we want to match their level and have a chance of getting something out of them on the day.”
...his first game as head coach at the Weserstadion: “This pitch and this touchline are nothing new to me. It’s all about picking up points, and I’m looking forward to doing so, as I’ve already said on several occasions. I’ll keep up this energy, regardless of the result tomorrow. I’m looking forward to the coming weeks and months, and I’m determined for us to become the best version of ourselves as a team.”
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...Samuel Mbangula: “I’ve obviously had the chance to talk to Sam by now. I want to get to know him and understand the situation. We’re now looking to the future together. He has more than enough quality, but he also needs to show that on the pitch. He needs to keep persevering and working tirelessly, and he’s done that well this week. That was something I was hoping to see a bit more of in the first couple of training sessions we had last week. He knows that as well. I’m convinced, though, that we’re going to have many more good times with him."
...possible yellow-card suspensions: “If we could afford the luxury of focusing on that for the game, then we would do so. We won’t be applying the brakes, though, and so it won’t play any part in how I decide to set out the starting XI for this weekend. Everyone is important to the team, and if someone becomes unavailable, someone else I know I can trust will be ready to fill in.”
...the relegation battle: “I know what this kind of situation is like from my time at Osnabrück, and now I’m getting even more experience of it. What I’ve already been through will definitely help me in this respect. I’m not afraid of the task, rather I feel extremely willing and ready to make a difference. Everybody needs to be aware of what’s at stake.”
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