Bremen angry after early Pokal elimination: "We're in even deeper trouble now!" | OneFootball

This is not the start you want at your new club: Horst Steffen's Werder Bremen have lost 1-0 in the first round of the DFB-Pokal against Arminia Bielefeld.

“Now, after this defeat, we're in even deeper trouble than we were after pre-season. Pre-season wouldn't have mattered if we'd been on top form today. But we didn't manage that. And we just have to be careful, because it's not going to get any easier in the league – if anything, it's going to be 15 to 20% harder."

"Maybe we'll just wake up now. Otherwise, we'll have our back against the wall, even though the season is still young”, said captain Marco Friedl right after the loss.

Bremen were not in good condition against any first or second division teams in pre-season and many feared an early elimination against Bielefeld - which is exactly what happened.

“Something has to happen, I've been saying that for weeks. We need more of everything. Including more quality,” responded Friedl after being asked if Bremen needs to do more on the transfer market.

While there are currently almost no concrete rumours about any new arrivals, Bremen will most likely let go of their starting goalkeeper Michael Zetterer, who was quite emotional after what might have been his last match in green-white.

“We are in talks, that is indeed the case. I don't want to hide or deny that. But we need to wait and see what happens over the next one, two, maybe even three or four days,” said Werder's sporting director Clemens Fritz.

Zetterer is on his way to Eintracht Frankfurt, who are reacting to the imminent departure of captian Kevin Trapp to Paris FC. Ironically, headcoach Horst Steffen had just announced a week ago, that Zetterer would be Bremen's number 1 goalkeeper ahead of talent Mio Backhaus.

A lot of pressure, a lot of negativity and a lot of change currently dominate Werder Bremen's daily business - they'll have a lot to do, until the Bundesliga season starts.