“I’m looking forward to it all starting up again”

Leonardo Bittencourt was critical in the Mixed Zone on Wednesday after the friendly defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt, but the team have put a line through this after a discussion between Clemens Fritz, Frank Baumann and Leonardo Bittencourt. “We had a good conversation. We’ve now put it behind us and are focusing on preparing for the game against Bochum,” explained Clemens Fritz at the press conference.

The Green-Whites are in any case focussing on the sporting task ahead of them at Castroper Straße. “I’m looking forward to it all starting up again,” commented Ole Werner on the coming game at VfL. “The atmosphere will make it an amazing game in Bochum. It’s not a big stadium, so it’s quite claustrophobic and there can be a real buzz. The team are also looking forward to the match.”

One player who definitely will not be travelling with the rest of the squad to Bochum is Milos Veljkovic. The Serbia international, who also missed last week’s friendly against Eintracht Braunschweig, will not be involved in the Green-Whites’ first Bundesliga match of the year due to knee pain.

That’s why Werner thinks it’s even more important that his team think back to their success last year when they face off against Bochum. “It’s a really tough test. It’s important that we go into the match with the confidence that we had last year.”

:sprechende_silhouette: Ole Werner on Rafael Borré:
“Rafa is very professional. I haven’t noticed any changes in that since he arrived. He will be in the squad on Sunday.”#werder#bocsvwpic.twitter.com/ZV4zbw22XO
— SV Werder Bremen EN (@werderbremen_en) January 12, 2024