Andreas Herzog talks Bayern vs. Werder Bremen

Once dubbed the Alpine Maradona, Andreas Herzog represented both Bayern and Werder Bremen, and will be watching intently when his ex-clubs meet on Friday night. Werder were once blessed with playmakers like Herzog, Johan Micoud and Diego, but they currently lack a standout performer to compete with the likes of Bayern, according to the Austrian. 

Nicknamed the Alpine Maradona or Bremen’s Mozart, back in his hometown of Vienna he was just Herzerl, enjoying a 20-year career with Austria’s national team and great success at Werder with a Bundesliga and two DFB Cup titles. The forward also laced his boots for Bayern for a season before returning north to Bremen. “Yeah, it’s all so long ago. But it was a wonderful time,” the now 56-year-old said.

Herzog will be in the Allianz Arena with his younger son Luis on Friday night. The day before, he was still wobbling down the ski slope. After his impressive playing career, Herzog has some time on his hands; his last coaching engagement as assistant to Jürgen Klinsmann with Minjae Kim’s South Korea was some time ago. Born in Vienna, he is in demand as a TV pundit with his likeable manner and football expertise. He also predicts a one-sided encounter between Bayern and Werder: “It's quite clear that Bayern are the favourites. Werder have performed well this season but have dropped some frustrating points in their last two home games. Otherwise, they might even have the Champions League places in sight.”

"My manner and my dialect"

Herzog is happy about that prospect, as he is still particularly fond of his old love in the far north. “As a Viennese in Bremen, it worked well for me back then, with my manner and my dialect,” he said. Well, they didn't always understand him when he went shopping, “so I had to try to speak High German”. But apart from that, the top-class technician created an impressive monument to himself in 307 competitive matches (72 goals, 86 assists). “I remember two elderly ladies approaching me on the street once: ‘Excuse me, aren't you the Austrian?’” He was then asked to say something, simply “because they liked my dialect so much”.

Bremen's trip to the Allianz Arena last season was also a nice one, with Mitchell Weiser scoring the golden goal for a surprising 1-0 away win. That won't happen again this time, “if both teams put in their normal performance”, said Herzog. “It won't be easy for Bayern. But everything really has to go right for Werder. They have to defend well against Bayern’s attacking machine. Werder have quality up front - Bayern have to be careful, otherwise they might not be in such a good position in the end.”

However, Herzog has not identified any weaknesses at Bayern: “Weaknesses is an exaggeration - Bayern have world-class players in every position. Werder have to see how they can disrupt this rhythm of the game. They have to work really well defensively and then be mercilessly clinical going forward.” The days when the two clubs met as equals, as they did in the 90s, are over. “Werder lack the absolutely exceptional players that they had back then.” Especially in the playmaker positions, they had artists in the far north - one of them was Herzog. “Then came Johan Micoud, then Diego, but also Mesut Özil - there was always a good number 10 at Werder. The strikers were also exceptional with Ailton, [Claudio] Pizzaro and [Miroslav] Klose,” Herzog added.

The break came when large sums were invested in players during a transfer period who then failed to make an impact. Relegation followed a few years later. Werder still haven't fully recovered from this to build on the great times of the past - the time of Herzog. “It's all the more important now that they are at the top,” said the Austrian. “And I hope they make it to European places in the end. That's very important so that a lot of money is generated for the club. That's the only way Werder can get back to the top.”

Read up on the facts ahead of Friday’s historic fixture: