Channelling the pressure positively!

Preview of the final match of the season against Gladbach

[Translate to Englisch:] Kapitän Niklas Moisander ist ein wichtiger Führungsspieler im Abstiegskampf.
Captain Niklas Moisander is a key leadership figure in the SVW dressing room (nordphoto).
preliminary report
Friday, 21.05.2021 / 14:53

The most important match of the season is almost upon us. On Saturday afternoon at 15:30 CEST, SV Werder Bremen conclude the 2020/21 season as coach Thomas Schaaf and his team welcome Borussia Mönchengladbach to the wohninvest WESERSTADION. Schaaf replaced Florian Kohfeldt as head coach last weekend for the final phase of the season as the Green-Whites look to survive relegation and preserve their Bundesliga status. Saturday afternoon’s match will be Schaaf’s 480th game in charge of Werder, and he had a clear message at Friday’s pre-match press conference: “We have let other teams get the better of us in recent weeks. We have to be more dominant on Saturday. That means that every player have to give it everything they’ve got.”

The squad: Christian Groß is suspended for the match against the Foals following his red card in last weekend’s disappointing defeat in Augsburg. However, there was good news for Ömer Toprak and Niclas Füllkrug, with both players able to return to full team training during the week. The centre-back and striker are match fit and will be at Thomas Schaaf’s disposal, but Milos Veljkovic is still a doubt for the game.

Thomas Schaaf: “I believe in this team”

[Translate to Englisch:] Thomas Schaaf im Trainingslager in Barsinghausen.
Thomas Schaaf has been busy formulating a plan-of-action for the final match of the season (WERDER.DE).

The head coach on the match: During the week, Thomas Schaaf described his return to the dugout as “an affair of the heart” as he discussed taking over for the last phase of the season with the aim of achieving Bundesliga survival. The 60-year-old has had barely a week in which to make his mark on the team: “We need an idea and a structure which we then put into action. It’s no use just knowing what the plan is; we have to make sure the plan and its implementation are in perfect harmony.” Looking at Borussia Mönchengladbach, the head coach spoke about “a team who can play very good football.” For that reason, it will be particularly important to prevent quick transitions in their play and to defend well against the quality that the Foals have in their squad. “We have to channel the pressure and the tension of the game positively. I believe in this team,” stressed Schaaf.

The last meeting: In the match against Marco Rose’s side away from home earlier this season, SVW fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat. Werder controlled the match for long periods and created more dangerous chances, but it was Nico Elvedi who broke the deadlock in the 66th minute as he headed home from a free kick. The Green-Whites continued creating chances, but ultimately were unable to score and returned to Bremen empty-handed.

 

A wonder on the Weser

[Translate to Englisch:] Im Training sollte die Mannschaft neues Selbstvertrauen tanken.
The team has been looking to build up self-belief in training during the week (WERDER.DE).

Gladbach’s struggle to hold onto a lead: The Foals’ last match in the Bundesliga saw them throw away a 1-0 lead against VfB Stuttgart, taking the total number of points they have lost from a winning position to 29 for this season. However, the side from Mönchengladbach are unbeaten in ten Bundesliga matches against SV Werder. Against only 1. FC Köln (51) have the Foals managed more league victories than against SVW (40).

Another last-minute success? Last season saw the Green-Whites in 17th position in the table ahead of the last game of the season, but they were able to save themselves from relegation thanks to a remarkable 6-1 win in Cologne combined with Düsseldorf's loss against Union Berlin. When Thomas Schaaf took over four matchdays from the end of the season in 1999, Werder managed to save themselves from relegation on the penultimate game of the campaign. The victory that ensured Bundesliga survival at that time came on Matchday 33 with a 4-1 victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach of all teams.

Latest news

Mitchell Weiser running with the ball.

Confident ahead of the 1000th home game
03.05.2024 / preliminary report
Ole Werner in the mixed zone.

“Need to make sure we’re on our A-game”

02.05.2024 / First Team
Milos Veljkovic in action for Werder.

“Things will go our way”
30.04.2024 / First Team
Leon Opitz in action.

Two friendlies to close out the season
30.04.2024 / First Team
Ole Werner speaking to the team in the huddle.

“There were a lot of good things"
27.04.2024 / First Team
Your web browser ist outdated.
The web browser you are using is no longer supported.
Please download one of these free and up to date browsers.
Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge
Chrome Firefox Edge
Google Chrome
Mozilla Firefox
MS Edge
Why should I use an up to date web browser?
Security
Newer web browsers provide better protection against malware, data theft and other threats to your privacy and security. Up to date browsers continuously close security holes that allow attackers to enter your computer.
New Technologies
The technologies used on modern websites are better supported by newer web browsers. This both increases functionality and improves the website layout. By benefiting from new functions and extensions you will be able to surf the web faster and easier.