Jupp Heynckes handed out the bibs before the practice match on Thursday. Arjen Robben and Franck Ribéry were to be the neutral players and were the only ones to be given green shirts – fitting for the build-up to the game against the Frenchman’s favourite oppopnents. FC Bayern take on the Green and Whites from Bremen on Sunday and the 34-year-old has a special connection to the team.
Ribéry played the first of his 386 games for the German record champions against Werder in July 2007. The new signing netted the first two goals in the 4-1 win in the League Cup in his first outing. The wizard on the wing also scored his first Bundesliga goal against the team from the Hanseatic city – on matchday 2 in 2007/08 he slotted a penalty into the back of Tim Wiese’s net. Bremen are also the team Ribéry has scored the most goals against up to now.
Committed, enthusiastic and a team player
The treble winner of 2013 has scored 12 goals in the last 19 fixtures against Werder Bremen – and he has never been on the losing side (16 wins, 3 draws). So it’s perfect that the European Footballer of the Year in 2013 is in outstanding form ahead of this weekend’s game and he will be looking to build on last week’s match at Leverkusen where he scored his first goal in the current campaign. “It feels good and very emotional. It was my first goal of the season. It was a good goal and an important one at the time,” was Franck’s assessment after the game.
“He’s incredibly committed, enthusiastic and he works for the team,” said his coach. “He’s absolutely vital to the team, he’s always lively and, at the gae of 34, he still shows the youngsters how to do it,” declared Sven Ulreich in praise ofthe stalwart. Those characteristics were on show in the practice match in training. The green bib darted from left to right and he was always available.Ribéry is clearly ready to take on Werder Bremen.
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