Goodbye, Zillertal! The Werder players said farewell to Zillertal until next year on Friday morning. The Green-Whites have used their second pre-season training camp to take important steps in their preparation for the upcoming season. The management have been very happy with the conditions and the team’s work ethic in Zell am Ziller. However, they know all the same that there is still a third training camp next week in Herzlake which will mean more hard work for the players.
“We are happy with the training camp. The conditions were optimal as expected and the weather was pretty much perfect for us to train intensely. There was room for improvement in both of the friendlies – both in the results and our display,” commented Frank Baumann, the sporting director continued: “The results are secondary but there were certain things that we wanted to be implemented in the friendlies that didn’t go that well.”
Head coach Viktor Skripnik analysed both the training camps in Neuruppin and Zilertal in his evaluation: “I was happy with our first training camp and it’s the same here. The facilities at the hotel and training ground were brilliant once again. I am at the same time happy with the way way that the lads have presented themselves in training here and how hard they have worked. The only thing worrying me is the amount of injuries.”
He had to deal with injuries to Santiago Gercia, Claudio Pizarro and Sambou Yatabaré in Zell am Ziller and Michael Zetterer had to head home after suffering a capsule and ligament injury. Six players also didn’t travel to the camp due to injury, with Eilers, Grillitsch, Bargfrede, Jóhannsson and Kleinheisler all staying in Bremen. Melvyn Lorenzen was also only able to join halfway through the camp.
The Werder head coach also touched on the friendlies against Huddersfield (0-0) and 1860 München (1-2): “We could have picked weaker opponents so we would win comfortably and all be happy. However, for us it is more important that we work on the things that we have been struggling with; winning challenges and working without the ball for example. We conceded too many goals last season and this is something that we want to work on. It’s better for the team to play sides like München, who are further along in their preparation than us. They demand that your team gives everything.”
Werder will face Real Betis and Dynamo Dresden in the Dresden Cup before a real international test against Chelsea FC. They will then travel to their final training camp at Herzlake in Emstand on 9th August following nine days of training in Bremen. Baumann and Skripnik will be able to make a final evaluation at the conclusion of pre-season.
