Werder Bremen feel relieved after a series of difficult games: «I’m happy it’s behind us.»

Frustration after Werder Bremen’s defeat against Bayern Munich

Werder Bremen coach Horst Steffen and team captain Marco Friedl were simply grateful at the final whistle after last night’s crushing defeat to Bayern Munich. Both Werder pros complained about the refereeing of the match, but made no excuses for not being able to truly compete with the reigning Bundesliga champions. However, both criticisms were related to Bayern’s first two goals.

Two scenes above all annoyed Friedl and Steffen. Bayern striker Michael Olise won a corner kick in the 21st minute. FCB defender Jonathan Tah converted the next free kick in the 22nd minute to make it 1-0. However, replays confirmed that Olise pushed Bremen’s Felix Agu in the run towards goal. Furthermore, Friedl considered the 44th-minute penalty, which allowed Harry Kane to make it 2-0 from the spot, questionable.

Both Friedl and Steffen expressed their disappointment during post-match interviews with Sky Germany. Steffen angrily noted » I’m sorry, but this should have been reported! » referring to Olise’s guilt on Agu. Friedl reacted the same way, growling.» This is clearly a mistake! » when given the opportunity to review the sequence.

» I’m always right when it comes to mistakes, Friedl said of his duel with Kane inside the box shortly before halftime. » I don’t make any movements. He runs towards me. There is clearly contact and we can see it. Is that enough for a penalty? I find it hard to say to be honest. «

» I have the impression that Marco is putting his best foot forward and he [Kane] runs from behind, » said Steffen in support of his captain. » Sorry but I see it differently. «

» We still deserved to lose »Friedl then added in the mixed zone. » We can concede a few goals, but we have conceded too many this season. The next few weeks will be crucial for us. We need to get the first home win of next season against St. Pauli. «

» We weren’t able to work well in possession because Bayern’s pressure was too strong. » said Steffen during the post-match press conference. » We couldn’t get back to the locker room with a 0-1 deficit.

» Some positives from us, but for them it was a deserved victory, » continued Steffen. » The first five weeks were difficult for us and we are happy to have them behind us.

» We had difficult opponents [sous la forme de l’Eintracht Francfort, du Bayer Leverkusen, du Borussia Mönchengladbach, du SC Fribourg et du Bayern Munich], » concluded Steffen. » They were really difficult teams to face and we are happy to return home to face St. Pauli next week. «

Indeed, the opening program in Bremen was quite difficult. Four of the five teams faced are currently competing in Europe. Bremen only managed a win against Gladbach and can take some pride in the fact that they snatched a point against Leverkusen in what turned out to be Erik ten Hag’s last game.

The fact that Bremen have conceded a record 14 league goals and are close to the Bundesliga relegation zone is still worrying. Marco Friedl’s gloomy predictions before the season, not to mention that Bremen could finish bottom of the table, have so far not been entirely proven wrong.

Bremen are also the only German top-flight team eliminated from the German National Cup after being eliminated by Arminia Bielefeld in the first round of the DFB-Pokal. This was also a brutal draw that left Werder in trouble from the start.

Almost no one gave Werder a chance before the match against Bayern. Even a home win against an extremely hard-working St. Pauli team next week is not guaranteed. THE Hanseatic they have a lot of work ahead of them.