WERDER BREMEN

Coach: Thomas Schaaf (12th year)

Last Result: 1-1 tie at home to Borussia Dortmund, November 08

Record: 6-1-5 Second place

Streak: Tied 2

Next Match: away to SC Freiburg, November 21

Europe: UEFA Europa League (Group L)

Werder Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf believes the sale of Diego to
Juventus last summer may have actually benefitted his side.
Bremen appear to be doing fine without the Brazilian playmaker
and Schaaf says this is because the initiative he used to take
is now being taken by more players. "Diego was very dominant in
our attack and we allowed that because we could rely on him,"
Schaaf told Kicker magazine. "Of course our game has now
changed. Many of us had relied on Diego, but we don't now have
this alibi. There are other people who must take responsibility
now." And that appears to be working out well at the moment with
Bremen up to second in the Bundesliga, in the quarter-finals of
the DFB-Pokal and already qualified for the last 32 of the
Europa League.