Werder Bremen coach Daniel Thioune has defended Alexander Prass and strongly criticised the rule that earned the Hoffenheim player a red card. Thioune even offered to pay the resulting fine for the opposition player. The incident occurred on the last matchday when Prass scored a late equaliser for Hoffenheim against Leverkusen, removed his shirt and was sent off in the 89th minute.
Daniel Thioune said he is not a fan of this rule. The Werder coach went a step further, declaring his personal willingness to stand up for such emotional moments. He offered to take the punishment in such a case.
The comments come at an important time for Werder Bremen. The team from the Weser sits seventh in the Bundesliga with 12 points from seven games and faces Alexander Prass's team this Saturday. 1899 Hoffenheim, currently tenth in the table, visit the Weserstadion. Bremen aim to break the negative trend of their last five matches, which reads one win, two draws and two defeats, and build on the strong starts they have shown this season. They are five points behind leaders Bayern München in the title race. The team has scored 15 goals and conceded 14 this season. Top scorer Niclas Füllkrug has contributed eight goals in seven appearances, including a brace in the 3-2 win at Mainz and both goals in the 3-2 loss at Dortmund on 27 October.
For Hoffenheim, Prass's suspension means a noticeable absence in midfield. With his unusual gesture, Thioune not only showed solidarity but also expressed a widespread dissatisfaction among coaches and players with the rigid application of this regulation. The direct duel on Saturday gains an extra layer of intrigue from this backstory.
This story first appeared at google.com
