Diego demands Weser wonder
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Article summary
Brazilian Diego refuses to give up on Werder Bremen's chances in this season's UEFA Cup and history suggests the playmaker is right to keep on believing.
Article body
Diego is putting his faith in Werder Bremen producing another instalment of the "Wunder auf der Weser" as they seek to utilise home advantage and overcome a daunting 3-0 UEFA Cup semi-final deficit against RCD Espanyol.
'They believe'
The Bundesliga outfit were swept aside in the first leg in Spain as goals from Moisés Hurtado, Walter Pandiani and Ferrán Corominas left them on the verge of elimination. "Bremen were very down when we scored our second in Barcelona, they thought that was it," Espanyol coach Ernesto Valverde observed. "Now they believe they can do it." A conversation with any of the green-and-orange clad fans camped on the banks of the Weser outside the stadium will attest to that, though Brazilian playmaker Diego concedes it will be far from easy. "It is difficult but possible," the 22-year-old said.
Precedents
"The team is confident and we will do everything we can," Diego continued. "We need to avoid making the same mistakes as last time and we have to take our chances." Bremen have done it in the UEFA Cup before. In 1987/88 the side recovered from a 4-1 defeat at FC Spartak Moskva to book a place in the last 16 with a 6-2 extra-time triumph; that pedigree was witnessed again 12 seasons later as they cancelled out Olympique Lyonnais' 3-0 lead with an astonishing 4-0 success at the Weserstadion, a feat Bremen must now try to emulate.
Klose lift
"It's important to defend well, to keep them quiet and stay organised. And it's important we score early," Diego added. The majority of the crowd will look to the No10 to help create scoring opportunities, possibly for Miroslav Klose, who chose the eve of the match to underline his commitment to the cause after speculation linking him with a move away. Yet Diego insists the rumours have not hindered Bremen preparations: "The team are not interested in the Klose contract – we know he's going to play, he's important for the game and he needs to play well." Indeed, if Thomas Schaaf's men are to achieve another "Wunder auf der Weser", they will all have to play well.