During his pre-match press conference on Friday, Werder Bremen coach Daniel Thioune addressed questions regarding strikers Victor Boniface and Salim Musah as the team prepares for a vital relegation clash against 1. FC Köln this Sunday in Cologne. Currently, Bremen sits in 14th place with 28 points, just ahead of Köln in 15th with 27 points, making this encounter crucial as they approach matchday 29.
Victor Boniface Not Yet Ready for Werder Bremen
After returning to individual training last week, Thioune noted that Boniface still has considerable work to do, both physically and mentally. While expressing empathy for Boniface’s difficulties this season, Thioune candidly addressed the player’s struggles with maintaining his fitness.
“I questioned why someone would let their physical condition slip below competitive standards,” Thioune stated. “However, I also want to understand the circumstances surrounding this. I have some insight into how things transpired, which is why I continue to support Victor. There’s no need to assign blame.
A young athlete who has experienced success faced challenges after learning he would be sidelined for several months,” he added. “Right now, it’s too soon for him as he isn’t in the required physical condition. There’s nothing more to elaborate on.”
Will Salim Musah Start Up Front for Bremen?
With Keke Topp out for the remainder of the season and Justin Njinmah dealing with thigh issues, it’s likely that emerging talent Salim Musah may receive his first Bundesliga start against die Geißböcke on Sunday. Jovan Milosevic, on loan from Stuttgart, has only recently returned from an injury sustained on matchday 24, and while he played a few minutes as a substitute in last week’s match against Leipzig, Thioune emphasized that he’s not yet ready for a starting position.
“Jovan has a lot of ground to cover,” Thioune explained. “The 15 minutes we gave him against Leipzig were the maximum he could handle. He was very fatigued afterward.”
“Salim Musah is a contender for the starting lineup,” Thioune confirmed. “He’s eager for more and is pushing to earn his spot.”