“I’m still some way from calling it a final”

Matchday 24 is on the horizon, with SV Werder Bremen set to clash with relegation rivals 1. FC Heidenheim. Head coach Daniel Thioune doesn’t yet “see the game against FCH as a final.” Here’s everything the 51-year-old had to say in his press conference ahead of the match.

…the upcoming opponents: “Anyone familiar with teams coached by Frank Schmidt knows that he always puts sides on the pitch that keep pushing until the very end. For Heidenheim, every season is about carrying on this dream of playing in the Bundesliga. I expect a team that will give everything until the moment they get back on the bus. It’s our job to make sure they don’t take anything home with them.”

…the pressure of the game: “I’m still some way from calling it a final. What is non-negotiable from our perspective is the fact that we must deliver a performance that maximises our chances of winning. Even if it could be an evenly matched game, I see us as favourites because of our own ambitions and the potential we have. With all due respect: Werder Bremen should be capable of winning a home match against Heidenheim. It’s not a must-win game, but I expect the team to do everything in their power to win it nonetheless.”

…this week’s training: “We’ve had less time to prepare this week, having played on Sunday, but we still spent a lot of time on the training pitch. Last weekend’s game really wounded us. We have, of course, treated that wound, but also poked it a bit. That’s something you have to do if you want to improve.”

…the atmosphere at the Weserstadion: “In the three matches I’ve had here as head coach, I never had the feeling that the support was lacking – quite the opposite. There was always positive support right until the final whistle. After 13 matches without a win, it’s understandable if the mood becomes a bit more tense. Dissatisfaction is normal, but the fact that the support during the match has always remained positive is sensational, and I have great respect for that. It shows that people care about the cause. That’s why I’m expecting unity again on Saturday, though the players on the pitch are responsible for that as well.”

…what has been said during the week: “It’s not about treating everyone the same, but about treating everyone in the best possible way. There are different types of players. We’ve done a few things that we hadn’t done before, but in many respects, this week was similar to previous ones. It’s important not to just change things for the sake of changing them. We’re trying to strengthen everyone’s self-belief. For example, you can either talk about Mio Backhaus’ mistake, or you can talk about how strong his first Bundesliga season has been at his hometown club.”

…Jovan Milošević: “The best-case scenario is that he scores again against Heidenheim – that’s his core strength. Jovan has been great in training this week and is starting to feel a bit more freedom because he hasn’t been here that long. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he starts tomorrow. We hope he can pick up where he left off.”

…Yukinari Sugawara: “It’s clear that Yuki isn’t happy when he doesn’t play. Nevertheless, he doesn’t let his head drop, and that’s part of being a professional. In the current situation, it was the right decision for us not to start him. However, it’s not out of the question that he’ll be in the starting line-up tomorrow.”