When Ole Werner meets his former membership Werder Bremen with RB Leipzig this Sunday, two variations of his teaching profession collide: the Bremen notion and the present Leipzig actuality.
Between these narratives lies a chasm that’s widening week by week. The person who was lengthy mentioned on the Weser to battle with younger gamers is at present shaping one of the crucial gifted offensive machines within the Bundesliga.
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Werner’s Fame: “He depends too little on youth!”
Werner’s transfer to Leipzig final summer season was considered critically. To grasp this, one should look again at his time in Bremen. Though he first led Werder again to the Bundesliga, established them there, and narrowly missed worldwide competitors twice, he clashed notably in coping with skills.
The accusation: Younger gamers not often received actual possibilities. As a substitute, the pragmatic North German typically relied on skilled professionals who carried out solidly however unspectacularly. It was typically Anthony Jung, Christian Groß, or others who functioned reliably however confirmed little potential for important growth and total sparked little creativeness.
There are many notably painful examples: Nick Woltemade, for example, acquired restricted taking part in time beneath Werner, moved to Stuttgart on a free switch in 2024, and exploded. A 12 months later, he transferred to Newcastle United for 90 million euros. The 23-year-old is now thought of Germany’s clear primary striker for the 2026 World Cup.
📸 Stuart Franklin – 2024 Getty Photos
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Or take Eren Dinkci: The energetic ahead declined a return to Bremen after his excellent mortgage season in Heidenheim and activated his launch clause. His later touch upon ‘Sky’ spoke volumes: He felt rather more appreciated in Freiburg.
One other assertion from Werder’s 2024/25 season finale has been cited in current months as emblematic of Werner’s dealing with of younger gamers. “In the mean time when nothing is at stake, these are actually issues you can also make,” the 37-year-old defined when requested when promising children like Patrice Covic or Karim Coulibaly may get an opportunity within the Bundesliga.
In different phrases: So long as it was sportingly essential, youth was largely sidelined. The numbers assist this: With a mean age of 27.0 years, Werder fielded the third-oldest crew within the Bundesliga final season.
Werner Proves His Critics Flawed
No surprise many have been skeptical when Werner moved to a membership in the summertime of 2025 that stands like no different for the event and worthwhile sale of younger skills. A take a look at Leipzig’s DNA raised two questions: Does he have what it takes to be the coach of a possible Champions League membership? And much more: Does he match the RB philosophy in any respect?
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The heavy 0:6 opening defeat towards FC Bayern initially appeared to substantiate the worst fears.
However then the image modified. And radically so. Within the subsequent 9 league video games, the Saxons secured seven wins, one draw, and just one loss. Leipzig all of a sudden performed the thrilling, aggressive energy soccer naturally anticipated there. On the heart of this growth are notably many younger gamers.
Werner has lengthy distanced himself from the portrayal that he’s reluctant to make use of skills. At a press convention in October, he emphasised that there are “completely different opinions” on this subject. The decisive issue is the squad construction: “You probably have many younger gamers, the chances are excessive that additionally, you will use some.”
He makes his choice extra primarily based on efficiency. Furthermore: If two gamers are on par, the one with the “higher perspective for the membership” performs. He added: “I actually take pleasure in working with younger gamers.”
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The Leipzig Actuality: Youth in Abundance
And this declare can hardly be higher substantiated than with the present RB crew. The crew that performed towards TSG Hoffenheim earlier than the worldwide break had a mean age of 24.8 years – and that regardless of veterans like Péter Gulácsi (35) or Willi Orbán (33).
Main the way in which is Assan Ouedraogo (19), who not too long ago debuted for the German nationwide crew and instantly scored a aim. In response to ‘Sky’, a sum of fifty to 60 million euros would at present not be sufficient to purchase the midfielder out of Leipzig.
Antonio Nusa (20) can be thought of a rising star and is heading to the 2026 World Cup with Norway. The winger is a daily in Werner’s first crew.
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After which there’s Yan Diomande (19) – maybe the most important jewel within the squad. Regardless of simply 600 skilled minutes, {the teenager} joined in the summertime for 20 million from Spain, is a daily participant, and has been concerned in six targets in ten video games. All main European golf equipment have already got him on their radar, which is why RB, in line with ‘Sport Bild’, is aiming for the very best sale within the membership’s historical past.
📸 Alex Grimm – 2025 Getty Photos
Moreover, there are different gamers like Johan Bakayoko (22), Romulo (23), Nicolas Seiwald (24), and Castello Lukeba (22), all of whom are integral elements of Werner’s system.
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Diomande, specifically, is described by the coach as a main instance of how a lot he enjoys the event of younger gamers. You’ll be able to “watch week by week how their confidence grows.”
The Largest Misjudgment of the Summer time?
In Bremen, Werner was the coach accused for years of missing youth promotion. In Leipzig, he’s at present demonstrating the other impressively. Sure, maybe it was at the very least partly as a result of Bremen’s squad construction. Perhaps he wanted the fitting surroundings. Or maybe he’s merely a coach who has advanced.
At the moment, Werner is offering the perfect response to the various detrimental voices of the previous. The bold RB mission doesn’t appear to be too huge a problem for the previous Kiel coach. And he has already confirmed that he can work effectively with skills, even at Holsteiner Förde.
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Was the summer season criticism of Ole Werner’s transfer to Leipzig misplaced? It actually appears so!
This text was translated into English by Synthetic Intelligence.
📸 Alex Grimm – 2025 Getty Photos