“You can tell the players are looking forward to the last eight games of the season,” VfB boss Pellegrino Matarazzo said at the press conference ahead of the home game against SV Werder Bremen on Easter Sunday (kick-off 15:30 CEST). Matarazzo has all his international players at his disposal in the run-up to the game, all of whom returned from their national team exploits with a clean bill of health.
Personnel problems
“Bremen surprised us with their high pressing earlier in the season,” continued Matarazzo. “They’re also flexible in attack. We’ll prepare for every scenario and focus on our own strengths.”
VfB will be without two key attacking players in Silas Wamangituka (ruptured anterior cruciate ligament) and Nicolas Gonzalez (thigh strain). Sunday’s game also comes too soon for Orel Mangala, who is still returning to fitness following a muscle injury.