Koln vs Werder Bremen preview - Skrypnyk targeting Europa League

Posted Friday, March 20, 2015 by PA

Werder Bremen coach Viktor Skrypnyk has admitted his side are aiming for a place in the Europa League next season, but warned at the same time that defeat in Cologne this Saturday could completely transform their outlook for the season run-in.

Bremen's form in 2015 has seen them rise from the relegation zone to within five points of the top six.

Depending on how the DFB-Pokal pans out, seventh place may be enough for a place in the Europe League next season and Skrypnyk is now setting his sights on that objective.

"A positive result could allow us to consider other things," Skrypnyk said at a press conference.

"Given the way the team are developing, I've got to be able to believe that they can qualify for the Europa League, but we've got to win in Cologne.

"If we lose, then we would have to think about other things."

Skrypnyk's record as Bremen coach speaks for itself with 29 points from 16 games in charge catapulting them from the bottom three into the top half of the standings.

"I struggle to explain our development really," Skrypnyk said. "It's just been a bit of everything coming together.

"We're really pleased and we're looking forwards."

Cologne are also looking forwards with their coach Peter Stoger keen on collecting three points at the Mungersdorferstadion once again after picking up only their second win in front of their own fans in their last home game.

"We always said that we love to be playing at home and we know what it means to have the fans behind us and that never changed even when the results were not very good," Stoger said.

"We now want to build on our positive results in recent weeks and get some more against Bremen."

Kevin Wimmer is back from suspension and he is likely to return to the Cologne defence, where he will come up against Franco Di Santo, who has been passed fit by Skrypnyk.