Werder Bremen: A false start for Horst Steffen in his DFB Cup debut!

Werder Bremen: A false start for Horst Steffen in his DFB Cup debut!

The new season at Werder Bremen has started with a bang and expectations are high. But after the coaching change from Ole Werner to Horst Steffen, nothing is as it once was. SV Werder Bremen, founded on February 4, 1899, which can proudly look back on a rich tradition and numerous successes, apparently still has a few question marks to clarify, as the defeat in the DFB Cup against Arminia Bielefeld showed. In this bitter 1-0 defeat, the team was slowed down by a yellow-red card for Leonardo Bittencourt and inadequate conversion of chances. Deichstube reports that this defeat marks an unfortunate start for Steffen, who wants to clearly show that he wants the team to be offensive and risk-oriented can establish a style of play.

Under Steffen, the tactical framework has changed from a defensive 5-2-3 system to a more active 4-2-3-1. This means the team should act in a more space-oriented manner and put more pressure on the opponent when they are pressing. The 4-4-2 formation is used to disrupt the opponent's attack routes. An approach that should also include quick and flat passes when building up the game, especially from Marco Friedl into the central or attacking midfield. Despite a dominant style of play, Werder Bremen were unable to create decisive scoring chances, which is obviously not enough in a cup game.

A new wind in the Weser Stadium

In the Weserstadion, which has been the home of the Werder team since 1909, the spirit of optimism is palpable. President Hubertus Hess-Grunewald and the more than 40,000 club members are hoping for a positive turnaround in the current Bundesliga season, in which Werder finished 8th after last season. The new coach Horst Steffen is committed to this goal and could actually put the “green-white for life” motto into practice if the team adapts to its opponents in the coming games and raises the level of play.

The Werder fans, supported by the Ultras, will certainly turn out in large numbers at the next home game to motivate their team. But the first challengers in everyday league life should not be underestimated, which is also confirmed by observers from Yahoo Sports. Werder Bremen must focus on the Bundesliga and bring the positive approaches from training and games onto the pitch in order to cause a sensation.

Conclusion and outlook

Although the defeat against Bielefeld was a setback, it also provides an opportunity to see the first measures and adjustments that Horst Steffen may make. While the challenges remain in the foreground, the belief in the team's ability to prove itself and to revive its own history and successes remains. Werder Bremen: a club with tradition that wants to consolidate its place not only in the Bundesliga, but also in the hearts of its fans.