Ole Käuper is already fully involved in team training at Werder’s camp in Algorfa, and will continue to train with Max Kruse, Zlatko Junuzovic and Co. once the team returns to Bremen, since manager Florian Kohfeldt recently made clear that Käuper will remain a first team squad member: "He definitely belongs in this team. He needs to prove himself now and show that he can perform. As things stand, he won’t be playing for the U23s again this season," said Werder’s head coach.
The 20-year-old midfielder left a lasting impression, not only in the last few days of the winter training camp by the Mediterranean Sea, but also in the months preceding the winter break. Käuper has been making a name for himself with some top performances with the U23s, but was still visibly a little nervous to start with joining the first team in Alicante, as Kohfeldt puts it: "You could see he was nervous in the first session, but it kept getting better after that."
The Bremen born youngster, who only made his professional debut in Leverkusen mid-December, has taken a big step towards fulfilling his dream of one day playing a Bundesliga game in the Weser Stadion. "Ole has outstanding quality on the ball and has improved a lot defensively as well. In my eyes, he’s a good option for Bundesliga games now," said Kohfeldt, who added: "It has to be our responsibility within the club to develop young talents like him. This will give us better options within the squad. Maximilian Eggestein’s journey showed that it is possible. I believe Ole can achieve this too."
