Following four summer arrivals to date and four departures with more constantly rumoured, Viktor Skrypnyk must use the current pre-season to full effect if his Bremen squad are going to be ready for their first competitive fixture against the Wurzburger Kickers.
So far over the German summer the Green-Whites have played in six first team friendlies, remaining undefeated with five wins and one draw. With four pre-season fixtures remaining, two of which are against quality Premier League and La Liga opposition, West Ham United and Sevilla respectively, the Weserstadion faithful will be hopeful of more promising performances against quality sides as they watch their old heroes and new stars gel for the first time.
On the first Saturday of July, Bremen opened their pre-season run at home against MSV Neuruppin, a small club from the north east of Germany who play in the sixth tier of the country’s football. With most first teamers in action, poor Neuruppin was never given a look in as Werder ran out 11-0 winners, demonstrating their ruthlessness in the final third and professionalism demanded by Skrypnyk to play out the 90 minutes. Star striker Franco Di Santo put away a 26 minute hat-trick in the first-half as he and new recruit Anthony Ujah also impressed, notching himself a second-half treble.
Three days later the squad travelled to Rostock to take on third tier outfit FC Hansa Rostock. After defensive midfielder Cedrick Makiadi opened the scoring for Bremen in the fifth minute with a long range drive from outside the area, another rout looked to be on the cards. However, Rostock proved to be a much sterner test as Hansa levelled on 80 minutes through Austrian Julius Perstaller. In goal, new signing Felix Wiedwald showed his shot stopping abilities as Rostock looked to test the man at the back from distance at every opportunity.
Following the hit out against in Rostock, the pre-season preparations moved onto the next stage as Werder took part in the Audi Quattro Cup, also featuring Red Bull Salzburg (who hosted the tournament), Southampton and Valencia. The format for the cup saw each game played on the one day and only lasting for a single 45 minute half. In Bremen’s first match against Salzburg they once again showed clinical finishing, scoring four goals. The final of the tournament saw Bremen come up against Spanish side Valencia, after they saw off Southampton thanks to a goal from winger Pablo Piatti. The second 45 minutes was a much tighter affair as Bremen hung on to the 0-0 score line at the final whistle following Felix Kroos’ dismissal after receiving a second yellow for dissent. The 0-0 score lead to a shootout to decide who would head home with the silverware. Decided by sudden death, Wiedwald pulled out a spectacular save with Werder up 3-2 to deny left-back Salva Ruiz.
After a weekend in Austria normal service resumed for the squad as they came up against second division team 1860 Munich away from home on July 15. Franco Di Santo was involved in the early action again as he opened the scoring in the third minute for the away side. Youngster Maximillian Eggestein put the Green-Whites 2-0 up in the 35th minute with a follow-up volley after his powerful header had been saved off the line. Fellow youngster Florian Grillitsch netted a third for Bremen as they ran out 3-1 winners on the afternoon. Key man Zlakto Junjuzovic once again was sublime, pulling the strings in the middle of the park as he continues where his form left-off last season.
Bremen’s latest friendly of the summer saw them come up against Czech side FC Zbrojovka Brno. Looking to continue their unbeaten start to pre-season Skrypnyk fielded a strong starting XI against the Czechs. With Werder dominating the game, countless chances were left untaken in the first-half as Ujah and Di Santo terrorised the Brno defence with their pace and strength. Defender Theodor Selassie opened his account for pre-season with a thundering header on 35 minutes. The flow of the game continued in Bremen’s favour, Brno were never given more than a sniff as Fin Bartels finished the scoring on 68 minutes to make it 2-0.
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To finish Preparations for the coming campaign Skrypnyk’s men come against Blumenthaler SV on the 22nd, Sevilla on the 25th, SV Wilhelmshaven on the 28th and West Ham United on August 2nd.
Once again reports in England are linking Bremen centre-half Jannik Vestergaard with a possible £7 million pound move to Everton who are sounding out potential defensive targets should England international John Stones complete a rumoured £26 million transfer to Chelsea.
Following the completion of last season, Vestergaard told kreiszeitung.de he wanted to stay at the Weserstadion saying, “I could imagine playing there (in England) someday. But if I stay here for the next 10 years, I’m happy. I get confidence out of (playing for) Werder and am glad that I can play here – I appreciate it. For my development, it is the most important thing that I can play. That’s why I’m going to be here next season.”
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