The team’s strong performance in 2018/19 also helped awaken the ambition of the management. According to Baumann, the team were also feeling ambitious, rather than comfortable. However, the desire and willingness to go that extra mile sometimes caused the team to go too far. As a result of not making any notable changes to their fitness training during pre-season, Werder had to deal with several muscular injuries during the first half of the season. New signings Ömer Toprak (Borussia Dortmund) and Benjamin Goller (Schalke 04) both picked up long-term injuries after not being prepared for the heavy workload. Frank Baumann highlighted a lack of recovery time and a lack of communication between the players and the staff as potential causes behind Werder’s injury crisis. “In response, we reacted by making several structural changes in September,” Baumann said, and listed the addition of new meetings and an increase in communication between those involved as examples. “The blame does not lie on just one area.”
Despite not saying so publicly, the team were also clearly feeling the effects of Max Kruse’s departure at this point in the season. As captain, Kruse had been the one to speak for the team, and had addressed the need for sufficient recovery time. During the first half of the season, the team had perhaps “been too willing to pass that critical point,” said Baumann. This willingness to go the extra mile then came back to haunt Werder. “Doing more isn’t always the best thing,” said Baumann.
