Werder Bremen vs Bayern Munich preview - Skripnik: Bremen up for Bayern task

Posted Friday, March 13, 2015 by PA

Bayern Munich's 7-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Wednesday has not worried Werder Bremen coach Viktor Skripnik, who insists his side are prepared to face the record champions this weekend.

Bayern have lost only once in the Bundesliga this season - a 4-1 defeat to Wolfsburg in January - but Skripnik sees no reason why defeat number two cannot be inflicted at the Weserstadion.

"Anybody who has any fear may as well stay in the dressing room," he said at a press conference.

"The Wolfsburg game was the best example. If you don't have any courage, then you may as well not turn up.

"But I don't have to motivate my players. They are all really looking forward to this game."

The Bremen coach has thought up a novel plan to prepare his players to face a side who tend to dominate possession.

"We've trained without using a ball all week," he said. "That way, my players are going to be desperate to get a touch of it this weekend."

Bayern may have had an easy night in the Champions League, but their comfortable victory may have come at a price.

Both Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery were forced to leave the field carrying knocks and both are therefore doubtful this weekend with coach Pep Guardiola having to amend his tactics should they fail to make it.

With the Champions League quarter-finals reached, and a comfortable cushion at the top of the Bundesliga to play with, Guardiola can be expected to rotate his side anyway.

Mitchell Weiser and Sebastian Rode can therefore expect to make rare appearances while Philipp Lahm, who was in the squad on Wednesday night, could make his comeback after breaking his ankle last October.