Werder sporting director sees the "next steps" despite 0:2

Werder Bremen's sporting director Clemens Fritz sees a positive development at the Bundesliga club despite the end of the unbeaten streak. "It's clear that we're not marching through the league here. The fact that we've now suffered a defeat against a top team is something we can't get away from. We showed a very good away game, we can take a lot of positives with us, but we also know that we lost," said Fritz after the 2-0 defeat at RB Leipzig with former coach Ole Werner. Before that, Werder had not lost five times in a row.

However, the former international, who once played for VfB Leipzig, does not want to be misunderstood. "I'm not standing here trying to sugarcoat anything, definitely not. But I also see the next steps, and we can take a few things with us for the coming weeks."

Like his head coach Horst Steffen, he asked himself the question: What if? "If you take the lead then, it will probably be a different game." But right in the middle of Werder's best phase, Assan Ouédraogo's dream goal (63rd minute) struck. "Of course, it's the kind of goal you don't score in every game," said Fritz. Xaver Schlager added another in the closing stages (80').

Steffen: "Door opener for Leipzig"

Coach Horst Steffen was also somewhat disappointed with the opening goal. He saw "an improvement in performance in the second half that deserved more than a 0:2". The 1-0 goal directly into the corner from new international Ouédraogo was "a door opener" for RB.

And a shock for Werder goalkeeper Mio Backhaus after an outstanding game: "The 1-0 then really hits home," said the 21-year-old, adding: "In the second half, we found even better solutions with the ball at our feet. We had the chance to take the lead." But Jens Stage, who was sent on a steep run and headed straight for the RB goal, was stopped in the penalty area by the quick-as-an-arrow Yan Diomande (59) with a perfect sliding tackle.