display

Bremen (AP) - Werder Bremen's coach Florian Kohfeldt tried to emphasize the sporting value of the game before the DFB Cup semi-final against RB Leipzig.

That it is also about his job is not so important at first.

«This is a cup semi-final.

That's also a reason to look forward to it, because you don't play a game like this every day, ”said Kohfeldt on Friday with a view to the encounter on Friday evening (8.30 p.m. / ARD and Sky).

After the sporting downturn with seven league defeats in a row, Kohfeldt only received a job guarantee for the cup game against Leipzig from the Bremen officials. Whether it will continue for the 38-year-old coach in the remaining three league games in Bremen depends on the performance of the Werder team against Leipzig. "I do not assume that a decision can be expected on Friday evening," said sports director Frank Baumann.

Kohfeldt wants to try to take the pressure off the team despite all the discussions about himself.

«Nobody has to feel that they have the pressure on their shoulders to play for me.

Nobody has to prove anything to me in terms of trust or loyalty.

They should play for themselves and for a cup semi-final, ”said the Werder coach, who admitted that the speculations about his dismissal had left him with a trace.

“That wasn't business as usual,” admitted Kohfeldt.

display

In preparation for the game, the Werder coach wants to try to convey looseness to his players.

The tactical meetings have been reduced to a minimum, and the team only moves into the team hotel on the day of the match and spends the night before the game at home.

In terms of personnel, Kohfeldt has to do without defensive player Marco Friedl (pelvic bruise).

The Bremen coach only wants to make a decision about a deployment of defense chief Ömer Toprak at short notice.

© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210429-99-402700 / 3

Information about the game on the Werder website

Information on the Werder homepage