Schaaf: "It will be an interesting match"

His development has been of fairytale style. From amateur coach to coach of the reigning Bundesliga champions and FA Cup winners all within five years. The Werder Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf (43) raised a few eyebrows as his side won the Bundesliga title last season by emphatically beating Bayern Munich in their own back yard. This weekend, Schaaf and his Werder side visit the VOLKSWAGENARENA to face the Wolves in the Bundesliga. We at vfl-wolfsburg.de spoke exclusively to the popular Werder Bremen coach…

vfl-wolfsburg.de: Thomas Schaaf, after your 3-2 win over Hansa Rostock last time out, your side is closing in on the teams above you in the Bundesliga table, are you hoping for a successful Bundesliga title defence?

Thomas Schaaf: First and foremost, it is important for us to be near the top of the table, and the victory against Rostock was crucial in making that possible. We don’t tend to look too far into the future; we prefer to concentrate on the next task which awaits us.

Fabian Ernst will join Schalke next term, have you got your eye on a replacement for him yet?

Thomas Schaaf: With Daniel Jensen and Gustavo Nery, we have two players who were sidelined for a long time due to injury, and were unable to play during the first half of the season. Now they are back we have more scope in midfield. Of course we would consider a replacement if we thought a certain player would suit our needs.

Keeper Tim Wiese will play for you from next season. What are you expecting of him?

Thomas Schaaf: Tim played well for Kaiserslautern in the Bundesliga. We hope that he can carry on the good work at Werder.

On February 23rd, you face Lyon in the Champions League, how do you rate your chances for that match?

Thomas Schaaf: We know that a strong opponent awaits us. Lyon has performed superbly both in the French league and in the Champions League. We are also a strong side and the games in the Champions League have always been a highlight for us. We have played some fantastic games and long may it continue.

What are your views on the refereeing scandal currently rocking the Bundesliga?

Thomas Schaaf: All of the facts must be put on the table and sorted out as soon as possible so that we can get back to normal again. Nothing must remain uncovered; these discussions are not helping German football. We have to rebuild the trust as soon as possible.

How do you think the Wolves will fare in the second half of the season?

Thomas Schaaf: They played superbly during the first half of the season and topped the Bundesliga table for a long time. Everyone knows that they have some excellent players in their squad. They will underline that fact during the second half of the season.

What kind of game are you expecting in the VOLKSWAGEN ARENA?

Thomas Schaaf: I am certain that it will be a very interesting game. The past few years have proved that when the two sides meet, the fans always got their money’s worth as far as entertainment goes.

Which clubs do you think will make the lucrative European football spots in the Bundesliga table this season?

Thomas Schaaf: There are several clubs in with a shout. Things are very tight at the top because no single team has been able to pull away from the rest.

Thank you very much.