Khedira and Effenberg reflect on Friedl’s outburst

Sport 1 analysts share their opinion about Bremen’s first crisis of the season.

Marco Friedl publicly talks about his concern for the new season, and it has been seen as a strong criticism in the direction of Werder Bremen’s bosses. The captain was furious after Bremen’s DFB-Pokal exit in Bielefeld for the second season running.

“We all have to get everyone on the track. Otherwise, it will be a very difficult year,” said the former Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen defender in an interview with Sky before adding a cryptic message. “I have to be careful what I’m saying now,” Friedl said.

Such strong words from the captain mean there is a minor crisis in Bremen a week before the Bundesliga restart. In their analysis for “Sport 1”, Sami Khedira and Stefan Effenberg shared their opinions about the current situation at the Weserstadion.

“You can’t really say that,” said the 2014 World Cup winner.  “To criticize your own club leadership? And he then said: ‘I’ll say nothing’? But, in the end, he said a lot with that statement.

“Where is the communication between the sports management and the team (as a captain? You have to worry when the club leadership is so sharply criticized by the captain after a cup defeat.”

Ex-Bayern captain Effenberg also shared the concern, but he understands Friedl’s frustration. “Basically, a captain is allowed to address things in public. And that’s what he has done,” said Der Tiger.

“It was a clear sign for the club leadership that you should do something else, especially after the departures. If you can’t help, it’s very dangerous.”

Borussia Mönchengladbach are the only team not in Europe from Bremen’s first five Bundesliga opponents of the season. Samuel Mbangula is the only permanent signing so far, while Maximilian Wöber could be out for a while after suffering an injury in Friday’s defeat to Bielefeld.