Disappointment was the overwhelming emotion after SV Werder’s 2-0 defeat to Union Berlin on Saturday. There was hope that the midweek cup victory over Borussia Dortmund would bring fresh impetus to the Bundesliga routine, but it wasn’t to be. “We were too casual and always had our foot on the brakes. We knew that the game wouldn’t be as fast-paced as Tuesday’s, but we need to up the tempo ourselves,” said Florian Kohfeldt after the final whistle.
Niklas Moisander: “We all want to be better than that. We had everything under control in the first half, but we didn’t get a goal. Going behind made it much more difficult and the goals we conceded were too easy. We didn’t create much more after their second.”
Fin Bartels: “We all knew that it would be a very different game. Still, we have to perform better than that. I think we were hoping to take some momentum from Tuesday, but it just didn’t happen.”
Maximilian Eggestein: “We didn’t score a goal and our opponents got two again. The first half was okay; we had a couple of decent chances. We allowed them too many counterattacking opportunities in the second half and handed them the win.”
Leonardo Bittencourt: “It was a very sluggish game. Union sat very deep. We had a lot of possession and had to do better with the few chances we created. The goals we gave away were too easy.”
Florian Kohfeldt: “We slipped back into our routine from the previous league games. We were too casual and always had one foot on the brakes. We knew that the game wouldn’t be as fast-paced as Tuesday’s, but we need to up the tempo ourselves. We stuttered too often and played with too much width at times. We won’t get success that way.”
Frank Baumann: “There’s no explanation for it. Every player knows the situation, so it makes it harder to explain how we end up putting in a performance with so little passion.”
Maximilian Eggestein: “We just need to keep going. We showed what we’re capable of on Tuesday, but we’re struggling to produce it consistently.”
Fin Bartels: “We deserved to be booed by the fans – that hurts to know.”
Leonardo Bittencourt: “The situation is serious, but we’re not relegated yet – it isn’t over until matchday 34. We can’t mope about or look for excuses, we have to start winning. We’re going down as things stand, but there are a lot of points to be won still. The Bundesliga is very tight.”
Florian Kohfeldt: “It’s very frustrating to be in the same situation week after week. We’re still fully motivated, but we’re too honest on the pitch. We need to show more energy.”
Niklas Moisander: “He is getting through to us. We’re in this situation together and will get out of it together. It’s not because of him.”
Leonardo Bittencourt: “We’re all behind him, everyone in the management too. Kohfelt is staying, I don’t know why it’s still being made an issue. Everything has been said already. Tuesday he was the best, and now he’s supposed to be the worst again – it’s a load of rubbish.”
Florian Kohfeldt: “I’m still full of confidence in my work. I can only say that I will keep fighting and can only make my case through my performance. We are Werder Bremen, we have to stay in the Bundesliga. I’m noth thinking about myself, my only concern is the club.”
Frank Baumann: “We’re fully behind Flo. We wouldn’t be in a different situation with a different coach on the sidelines. We’re confident that we can get out of this together.”
