SV Werder Bremen has achieved its official goals for the season ahead of schedule. And now? The chance to qualify for Europe is there: But this time, there's less talk—so they can continue to play with more freedom than they did at the beginning of the year.
40 points, and mathematically assured relegation – check. 42 points, and already the same total as at the end of last season – also check. After the 2-1 away win at VfB Stuttgart and the two officially achieved goals for the season, it's clear that SV Werder Bremen will improve its tally in its third season since being promoted (assuming they don't lose every game by the end of the season).
What this will ultimately be enough for, after missing out on European competition by just two goals last year, depends even more on the five remaining games, given the less favorable conditions for qualification and a higher points level this season.
Currently ninth in the table, Werder is one of what sporting director Clemens Fritz calls "eight, nine, ten teams" competing for the coveted fifth and sixth places - the gap is now only four and three points respectively.
Talking about Europe again?
The last time they were similarly close to these positions in the table was at the beginning of the year: Back then, Bremen's ambitions naturally grew noticeably, their statements became more assertive - but then they moved further away from the upper rankings week after week, falling from the preliminary high point after matchday 15 (7th place in the table) to the low point after matchday 24 (12th place).
The sporting performances had little to do with Europe, and the topic was logically dismissed in public. It seemed difficult enough to even get back on track after four consecutive league defeats, including the cup exit in Bielefeld.
Along with an easing personnel situation (and the return of captain Marco Friedl ), Werder has indeed become more stable again, winning their fourth of their last five Bundesliga matches in Stuttgart. But is that why they're talking about Europe again?
Fritz: "That didn't do us much good"
Not everyone likes that, given the back-and-forth this season; head coach Ole Werner recently reacted quite smugly , saying: "One season was great. Then it was dead. Then it was scandalous. Then it was a bit better again. Then it was just about okay – and now there's talk of something else again..."
Leonardo Bittencourt expressed himself similarly on DAZN in Stuttgart : "From the first relegation candidate to the golden pineapple to the Europe, it feels like everything is possible in one year..."
Sporting director Fritz, meanwhile, indicated that Bremen seems to have learned certain lessons in expectation management: "It's clear that after the first half of the season and the perfect December , everyone is calling for Europe. But you can see that it hasn't done us much good," said the 44-year-old: "The way we started the new year hasn't done us any good."
Freed Bremen residents: Others are under pressure
Now, however, he has the impression, Fritz said in Stuttgart, "that we are at peace with ourselves, that we are concentrating on our style of play – you can see the self-confidence and conviction in our own actions. And we benefit from that."
A situation that shouldn't be lost again, not even because of the public discussion about Europe – which, according to Werder's concerns, would lead to corresponding reactions and questions from those around them in the event of possible defeats. Fritz recently rejected such a black-and-white view in an interview with kicker . In light of the current standings, he said: "It can go in any direction."
Meanwhile, head coach Werner gave the logical goal of getting "as many points as possible" – and then seeing what they can achieve. The fact that they are determined to maintain this supposed advantage of being able to play freely again was also suggested by the following statement: "There are many teams that have a different kind of pressure than we do – they have to get to Europe."
Burke on Europe: "We should believe in it"
And here and there, there's actually a Werder player who, buoyed by the 2-1 win in Stuttgart, is taking a more optimistic view of the European prospects. And who could have been more buoyant on Sunday than double-winner Oliver Burke ? "We should all believe in it," the Scot declared: "It's possible." And perhaps on Matchday 34, that's what it will be like—check.