We Need A Miracle

Mar 9 2008 By Gavin Berry In Stuttgart

Patrick Insists Bremen Must Repeat History To Shock Gers

DESPERATE Werder Bremen know they need a miracle to salvage their Euro dream - and have latched on to an old German saying for inspiration.

The Bundesliga side's crown as Euro comeback kings is in danger of slipping but they're determined to stage another great escape against Rangers.

Bremen are renowned for fighting back from the dead and have to do it again in Thursday's second leg as they trail 2-0.

There is a famous phrase in German football "Wunder von der Weser" that roughly translates into "Miracle from the River Weser" which runs next to the stadium.

It was coined after four incredible European comebacks on their own patch and Werder boss Thomas Schaaf - reeling from yesterday's 6-3 thrashing away at Stuttgart - is clinging to those matches for hope.

He has been at the club in some capacity for each one and with his side the highest scorers in the Bundesliga he has every reason to believe they can do it again.

The first came in 1988 when Bremen turned a 4-1 first-leg deficit to SpartakMoscow into a 6-2 win and the next season Dynamo Berlin were crushed 5-0 to crash out 5-3.

Arguably the greatest comeback came 15 years ago against Anderlecht in the Champions League. Werder were 3-0 down at the break only to smash home five secondhalf goals. And French cracks Lyon, 3-0 up heading to Germany in 2000, were blitzed 4-0 in the second leg.

Now defender Patrick Owomoyela hopes to make it a famous five and said: "The phrase comes from historical Bremen results when all looked lost but they turned it round at home.

"If we raise our level of play it would be brilliant to give the fans another miracle from the river to talk about."

Having already beaten mighty Real Madrid at home in this season's Champions League, Owomoyela is confident they can do the same to Rangers.

He said: "We know it's possible to beat a good team and we've proved before we can do better than we did at Ibrox."

Owomoyela reckons Naldo's goal-saving challenge on Lee McCulloch to deny Rangers a late killer third goal may be crucial.

And it was easy to see Bremen's players felt the same as they celebrated the tackle on Thursday. Owomoyela said: "Naldo's saving tackle could well be a huge turning point in the tie.

"Two-nil is better than losing 3-0 so we have to score twice to level and maybe we can do even better.

"But it will be tough. Rangers will try to score to stop us winning but we have to focus on ourselves and be better in the box than we were in Glasgow.

"We must prove we are better thanwe showed.We knew Rangers would play aggressively so we weren't surprised.

"We were aware of the situation and what the atmosphere would be like. Rangers did their job and we have to be more aggressive.

"I'm not a big follower of the Scottish league but was impressed by their team. I was surprised by the way left midfielder Charlie Adam played and the big guy Daniel Cousin is like a beast, always tackling.

"It was a fantastic atmosphere but we didn't play as we wanted to and need to increase our tempo.

Our aimis always to play offensively and we'll do that on Thursday."

Yesterday's defeat by Stuttgart saw Bremen's confidence plunge to an all-time low and is hardly ideal preparation.

Owomoyela said: "It's a tough situation after the week we have had with defeat to Stuttgart as well.

"But now we have our backs to the wall the only way is forward."