Samuel Mbangula (22) was sent off at halftime after Werder Bremen’s 3-0 defeat to Lüneburg in the cup, prompting coach Daniel Thioune to schedule a one-to-one session. The 10-million-euro transfer makes him the club’s second-most expensive purchase. Thioune has promised the Belgian player a private lesson to address his defensive and offensive shortcomings.
Sitting Down with Thioune
Thioune initially refused to sugarcoat the disappointing performance: “We were not satisfied. He now has to work a bit more and prove himself indispensable.” The personal invitation was made on Sunday at the training ground after the reserves’ test match against Meppen (3-1). After two days off for the professionals, Wednesday is set for the remedial lesson.
Performance Analysis
Thioune explained: “On Wednesday we’ll sit down, review the scenes, dive into the match plan and point out the potentials he can improve.” Mbangula displayed tactical deficits in defense and delivered little offensively in his second Werder season. The former Juventus player acknowledges the mistakes and is ready to improve.
Positive Examples
In contrast, U23 player Paul Erevbenagie (19) left a better impression. He made his debut for the first team as a substitute against Lüneburg and enlivened the game. Bremen’s coach stressed: “In the match against Auxerre, we saw that Paul still needs time. I’m not talking about him being a starter, but he can give us fresh impulses.”
Outlook
Thioune plans to work on Mbangula’s weaknesses in the one-to-one session. The coaching meeting aims to elevate the player’s performance and force him to become an indispensable part of the squad. Werder Bremen is thus pursuing a disciplined development of young talents to strengthen the team for upcoming competitions.
