Thioune reacts to “pure relegation battle action” after crucial Werder victory

Werder Bremen secured a vital 1-0 away win over Wolfsburg this afternoon, claiming three huge points in a relegation six-pointer. Head coach Daniel Thioune was full of praise for his side’s resilience:

“Today was pure relegation battle action - not a treat for the fans. When 15th plays 17th, you expect a game like this. But you also expect both teams to fight and do everything to avoid what could eventually happen. I saw that from my team, especially towards the end of the second half. We fought brilliantly, showed we’re capable of this battle, and were rewarded for it.”

Match-winner Justin Njinmah highlighted the importance of the result after a difficult first half:

“It’s massive for the team. We all knew what kind of game this would be. We were poor in the first half - Wolfsburg completely outplayed us. The plan was to come out stronger after the break and take our chances. The deflection for the goal was a bit of luck, but it’s something we earned. This is a huge step forward. Being seven points clear of Wolfsburg is very, very important.”

It was also a memorable afternoon for Leonardo Bittencourt, who marked his 300th appearance in perfect fashion:

“That’s exactly how I imagined it - winning an important game while making my 300th appearance. It feels like it was meant to be. It took a long time to reach this milestone, which makes it even more special. Thanks to the team, to Mio for a fantastic performance, and to Justin for the great goal. I’m incredibly happy.”

Werder will now regroup during the international break before hosting Leipzig at the Weserstadion in a fortnight.