In previous seasons, Werder Bremen have gone into the campaign with a real sense of hope and optimism. They had performed well in the top-flight ever since returning in 2022, nearly securing European football on a few occasions. They were building something.
That isn't really the case this time around. After the nightmare that was Bremen's 2025/26, the club and it's supporters are a lot more cautious and fearful than usual. The team barely retained their Bundesliga status, digging themselves out of the bottom two with only weeks to go.
A coaching change was necessary, with Daniel Thioune given the role. He did enough for Werder, although it wasn't pretty and it really wasn't convincing. It's hard to blame him, though. The manager was thrown into a tough situation with little time to acclimate. The hope is that having a whole offseason will allow him to really make his mark on the club.
Whether that ends up happening remains to be seen, but it could be what decides Bremen's fate.
The Green-Whites had an interesting preseason campaign.
In terms of pure results, things went pretty well. They won a number of games against various opposition, and tied fellow Bundesliga outfit Padernborn twice during a double header. However, the performances sometimes left more to be desired.
It began with a game against Verden 04, an amateur outfit. That was a simple one, as Bremen were up 4-1 within 36 minutes, ultimately winning 6-2. They rolled out a strong lineup, with Jens Stage and Justin Njinmah grabbing early braces.
Their next matchup was against a more interesting opponent, Japanese first-division side Fagiano Okayama FC. The starting lineup was made up mostly of backups, but they still got the job done by clinching a 2-0 victory. Chuki and Mats Heitmann scored the goals.
Werder were back to playing German teams as they took on VfL Bochum. The scoreline was the same, 2-0, with youngsters Paul Erevbenagie and Salim Musah getting onto the scoresheet on this occasion.
They then welcomed back a club cult hero, facing off against Leonardo Bittencourt and his new team, Energie Cottbus. They were the ones who actually jumped in front via a goalkeeping error, but the Green-Whites eventually crawled ahead. Musah scored again before setting up Samuel Mbangula before the half. They added two more late on while also conceding another.
Bremen had a Bundesliga doubleheader to follow that, taking on Paderborn in two consecutive games. Both ended in draws, a scoreless 0-0 before the sides tied 2-2 in the following contest. Njinmah and Erevbenagie scored again.
Their preseason preparation did end on a sour note when they lost to Auxerre in the final warm-up at the Weserstadion, but they ended up playing one more friendly following their DFB Pokal tie, winning 3-1 versus Meppen thanks to a Marco Grull hat-trick.
For the most part it was a successful summer. They picked up wins along the way, and a number of youngsters got minutes and a chance to prove themselves, some making the most of the opportunities. The concern will be with the team's play at times, not quite looking like an outfit that fully knows how to attack together.
Bremen's summer was not as hectic as some thought it would be, but things have ramped up recently.
Going back to the beginning, it was actually a failed transfer that could prove to be vital. Jens Stage quickly agreed to personal terms with Hoffenheim . That made sense, as the Dane had a real breakout season and was expecting to make a big move away.
However, when it was time for Hoffenheim to make a deal with Werder, they never really came to the table. They submitted lowball offers, failing to match his true value. Those were never going to be accepted, and the club eventually backed away.
Reports have come out stating that Bremen are no longer interested in selling Stage since the season is underway, and the player understands. That is a huge boost for the club, and he's already scored in the opening round of the DFB Pokal.
The first official deal was a departure, though, with homegrown goalkeeper Mio Backhaus leaving for Freiburg for around 12 million Euros. While it was sad to see the shot stopper go, the club acted quickly to cover him, signing former loanee Karl Hein on a permanent deal for only 3 million.
Then Werder brought in a number of lesser-known players on either free or relatively cheap deals. Young playmaker Chuki arrived from Spanish second-division side Real Valladolid on a free, which might be a massive coup given his 8 million market value.
Up next was Cedric Itten , who also didn't cost anything in terms of a transfer fee. He's scored in the 2. Bundesliga, and he even featured in the World Cup for Switzerland , scoring a penalty in their shootout win against Colombia . Leon Opitz was loaned out before Dariusz Stalmach came in on a pretty cheap deal. Another youngster was sent on loan, this time Wesley Adeh, and then another free transfer saw Kenny Quetant join the club.
Werder did spend some money shortly after, buying Polish center back Oskar Wójcik from KS Cracovia. He might not make an instant impact in the lineup, but at 23-years-old he seems like he has the physical assets to perform in this league once he has more experience. The month ended with one more free transfer, this time for Alexander Schlager , who started in goal for Austria at the World Cup but is set to be a backup to Karl Hein.
News went a little quiet, but then everything burst out at once. It began with the departure of mainstay Romano Schmid , who had been their chief playmaker for a while. He arrived to the club at a young age and really blossomed at the Weserstadion, which made it sad to see him go.
Cover came quick, though. Ludovit Reis arrived to Bremen, once again via a free transfer. While he's not as offensively-minded, he's an all-action midfielder who will constantly get involved in play. What's really interesting is that he used to be captain for bitter rivals Hamburg , so his arrival was met with some intrigue and controversy. None of that will matter if he plays well.
Despite all these moves, the Werder attack was still not in good shape. However, that all changed in 24 hours as the club brought back two incredible attacking talents.
First was Eren Dinkçi, who starred on loan in the past for Heidenheim. While his move to Freiburg hasn't panned out, his ability is clear to see and he should continue to score on a consistent level.
Then came the blockbuster, with Niclas Füllkrug joining for the year from West Ham . A former Germany international , he was at his best with the Green-Whites. While he did well with Borussia Dortmund , his time in England and with AC Milan was borderline disastrous. He's happy to be back in his favorite place, and the club are thrilled to have him around.
The final bit of transfer business was the sale of Karim Coulibaly. The 19-year-old was always likely to leave after bursting onto the scene, and even though the offers coming in weren't as high as many expected, Werder still managed to secure around 20 million for him.
All things considered, it's a pretty solid summer outing. If some of the lesser-known players develop or break through into star players, Bremen could be in a really great spot going forward. Then again, if no one really steps up, then the threat of relegation will be quite real.
Most of the expected starting lineup was covered in the transfer recap segment.
Hein will be the number one, although the backline will be made up of starters from last season. Marco Friedl and Amos Pieper are the clear centerback partnership, and if both can stay healthy and in form then they'll be a huge asset to have in defense. The picture at fullback is less clear. Felix Agu and Mitchell Weiser both struggle with injuries on a constant basis, so they will offer plenty of opportunities to Olivier Deman and anyone else who comes in.
Senne Lynen will hold down the fort in the middle of the park. He's been one of Germany 's most underrated players, but maybe this is the year he gets the praise he deserves. Stage will slot alongside him, although the third midfield man is less clear. Ludovit Reis got the start in the DFB Pokal and currently has the edge, but Chuki could very well earn a spot soon.
Bremen have options up top, as they can either go with a single striker or a front two. Niclas Füllkrug will have to start when available, and the same is true for Eren Dinkçi. Then things get tricky.
Samuel Mbangula is the big money man, but he's failed to cement himself at the Weserstadion. Justin Njinmah and Marco Grull were relied upon last season, and neither really stepped up either. Cedric Itten will want to start, and he could be a nice alternative depending on the match or the situation at hand. Youngsters Salim Musah and Keke Topp will also be hungry for minutes.
Manager Daniel Thioune has some tough choices to make.
Trying to forecast the upcoming campaign for Werder is difficult.
Their ceiling is sneaking into a European place. They've come close before, and the talent in the team is clear to see. If the players can play at their best, and Thioune finds a system that suits them, there's no reason to believe that they can't make a run up the table.
The floor, however, is relegation. The Green-Whites are relying on certain players who have let them down before, whether through injury or poor performances. Things could get ugly quick, and there are doubts on if Thioune is the right man to lead them forward.
In reality, it feels like Bremen are destined for a lower-midtable finish. They aren't that bad of a team, and they should be able to beat opposition near the bottom of the league table. However, don't expect them to take many points off the better and more battle-tested sides in the Bundesliga.
In that regard, fans will have to wait and see.
Fortunately Werder already survived the first round of the cup, but it would be quite the surprise to see them make a genuine run at the trophy. Once again expect them to go as far as the draw takes them, as they'll be knocked out once they face real opposition.
In terms of particular players, there's a solid chance Niclas Füllkrug and Eren Dinkçi will deliver a good amount of goals for the club. They've proven their ability in the past, and having each other as supporting options could prove to be lethal. Jens Stage will also help, until he makes a move in the winter to some random Premier League side.
At the back, keep an eye out for Mick Schmetgens. The 18-year-old started in the cup, and might get the nod again this weekend. He's impressed in his brief cameos, with some hoping he'll be this year's Karim Coulibaly.
For a bit of fun, expect Ludovit Reis to get a goal in the derby against his former club Hamburg. That would be an incredible sight to see.
