Werder experienced highs, lows, disappointments and jubilation during the 2016/17 season. After a tough first half of the season, the Green-Whites’ form picked up in February and Alexander Nouri’s team went on an incredible run which almost landed them a place in Europe next season. In the final part of our season review, we take a close look at the stunning eleven match unbeaten run and the all-important, dramatic final match of the season in Dortmund.
An eleven match unbeaten run which included nine victories lifted Werder to the brink of European qualification. It was a period of two and a half months in which the memorable moments seemed to come around on a weekly basis. Werder sat 13th in the league until well into March, but the results kept on coming and suddenly hope emerged of a first European campaign in seven years. Werder moved to sixth in the table with a 2-0 home win over Hertha Berlin on Matchday 31, which was to be the highest place Werder would occupy on their great unbeaten run. The victory over Hertha was a fifth consecutive win in the Bundesliga during which time the side from Bremen had struck twelve goals and conceded just one. Left wing-back Robert Bauer described Werder as, “clinical and strong on the counter” and top scorer Max Kruse, who registered 15 goals and seven assists over the course of the campaign, said at the time, “We’re scoring goals at the right times.”
Kruse developed a brilliantly deadly partnership with fellow striker Fin Bartels, who was described by Thomas Tuchel as one of the most underrated players in the Bundesliga. Werder’s conversion rate of big chances (56.7%) and overall chance conversion rate (20%) obliterated all of the other teams in the Bundesliga. Notwithstanding this, such a good run would not have been possible had it not been for some long-lost defensive stability from Alexander Nouri’s team. Nouri switched from a back four to a back three supported by wing backs at the turn of the year and it appeared to help goalkeeper Felix Wiedwald who looked more assured even in the most testing of circumstances. However, head coach Nouri continually highlighted the fundamental elements such as “striving for the same goal“ and “unbelievable team spirit” within the squad as the reason for the upturn in fortunes, as well as constantly looking ahead to, but no further than, the next match. Nouri also had to do without Thomas Delaney, Serge Gnabry, Luca Caldirola, Izet Hajrovic and captain Clemens Fritz at various stages during the second half of the season.
Werder went into the final game of the season knowing that if they were to win and other results went their way, they could still secure a Europa League place for next season. Borussia Dortmund was the opponent and they themselves still had something to fight for as they were trying to secure third place and automatic qualification to the Champions League group stage. Werder took the lead in the second half as Max Kruse chipped the ball over the Dortmund keeper to put Werder 3-2 up and silence the 80,000 strong home crowd. However, two late penalties turned the match in Dortmund’s favour and put paid to Werder’s European dream. “As a footballer you always want to achieve as much as you can, therefore, we wanted to do the impossible today and we very nearly did,” said Max Kruse after the dramatic season finale. Fin Bartels appeared to be brought down by Sokratis as the German looked set to make it 4-2 to Werder, but nothing was given by the referee.
“I was very frustrated because I think I was going to make it 4-2 and for me it’s a clear foul, if that happens then at 4-2 the game’s over, irrelevant of who opposition is,“ said an annoyed Bartels after the match. “Sokratris was already on a yellow,” said sporting director Frank Baumann and he added, “At that time, the momentum was with us.” Werder went on to lose the game 4-3 and having suffered defeats to Köln (4-3) and Hoffenheim (5-3) in their previous two games, finished eighth in the table and just missed out on European qualification. “We’ll have a rest now and then we’ll look back with pleasure on the second half of the season,” said Max Kruse. Frank Baumann agreed, saying, „Today we’re disappointed, but we can be proud of where we’ve finished in the table.” Werder ultimately ended the season in eighth place on 45 points.
