Four-time German champions Werder Bremen pulled off the great escape on Saturday, but only for now.
Despite the ecstasy, Werder boss Florian Kohfeldt knows it’s only half the job done, with the Werderaner to face either Heidenheim or Northern rivals Hamburg SV in the relegation-promotion play-offs.
But Werder, who’ve been in the Bundesliga for the past 40 years, are still alive despite an improbable scenario at the start of Saturday’s final day of fixtures where they needed to beat FC Koln to have any hope of staying up.
Werder, in 17th spot, trailed 16th-placed Fortuna Dusseldorf by two points as well as minus four on goal difference, so a Bremen win and a Fortuna loss away to Union Berlin appeared the only way to survive.
Of course, a four-goal Werder win and anything less than a Fortuna victory could also be enough, but that’s seemed unlikely, particularly given the Werderaner’s home record and the fact they were the equal lowest scoring side in the top flight.
But remarkably Werder led 3-0 over Koln at the break and ended up 6-1 winners, while Union did them a favour, triumphing 3-0 over a distraught Fortuna who were automatically relegated.
“The immense pressure is still there,” Kohfeldt said. “We now have two more games, in which we will give everything.
“In that respect, not much has changed. The small, but perhaps crucial difference, is that its now back in our own hands.
“But we can’t afford to drop off, at all! Because we now have two more cup finals ahead of us.”
Kohfeldt also offered Union his sincere gratitude, whilst acknowledging Werder had got themselves into trouble but finally had their fate in their own hands after a long struggle against the drop.
“I have to say a big thank you to Union Berlin for their sporting mentality and for doing everything to win the game today,” Kohfeldt said.
“They did us a massive favour. At the same time, I also have great sympathy for Fortuna Dsseldorf, who played really well across the whole of the Ruckrunde. I can imagine their pain.”
