Bundesliga Column - Round 34: Cologne relegated, Hertha Berlin get relegation spot

As is usual in the last couple of German Bundesliga rounds all nine matches of Round 34, the final match day of the 2011/12 season were played simultaneously at 15.30 CET on Saturday. This is to ensure same chances for everyone fighting for the title, places in Europe and against relegation.

And what a match day it turned out to be though key decisions on champions, first team to be relegated and who gains places for Europe next season had already been taken. Champions Borussia Dortmund trashed an inform SC Freiburg 4-0 to finish with 81 points, a new record in the history of the Bundesliga.

The eyes were all on the relegation battle between 1.FC Köln and Hertha BSC Berlin, who would get relegated directly and who would get a second chance in the relegation playoff against the third-placed side in the 2.Bundesliga. FC Cologne that the difficult task of facing record champions FC Bayern Munich at home, while Hertha BSC Berlin faced 1899 Hoffenheim who had nothing to really play except that their coach Markus Babbel had been Hertha coach earlier on in the season.

As one would have expected Cologne suffered a 1-4 defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich, but Hertha Berlin won 3-1 against Hoffenheim to push Cologne into Division 2 while they face Fortuna Düsseldorf in the relegation playoff in the coming days to decide to play Bundesliga and 2.Bundesliga next season.

The last Europa League spot was grabbed by Hannover 96 who beat relegated 1.FC Kaiserslautern 2-1 while VfL Wolfsburg, Werder Bremen and 1.FC Nürnberg all lost in their quest for European football next season.


Round 34 Results

Borussia Dortmund 4-0 SC Freiburg
Hertha BSC Berlin 3-1 1899 Hoffenheim
FC Augsburg 1-0 Hamburger SV
1.FC Nürnberg 1-4 Bayer 04 Leverkusen
SV Werder Bremen 2-3 FC Schalke 04
VfB Stuttgart 3-2 VfL Wolfsburg
Hannover 96 2-1 1.FC Kaiserslautern
1.FC Köln 1-4 FC Bayern München
1.FSV Mainz 05 0-3 Borussia Mönchengladbach

FC Arsenal sign Mertesacker from Werder Bremen

English Premier League side FC Arsenal have been trying to sign German international Per Mertesacker for quite a while, now on the last day of this summers transfer window they have been able to get Mertesacker from SV Werder Bremen. The fee is expected to be around 10 Million Euros (appro. 8 Million Pounds) with Mertesacker set to get a salary of 4,7 Million Euros.



Mertesacker had yesterday left the Germany camp ahead of an Euro2012 qualifier to undergo a medical in London and after passing the test the details of the deal were worked out by the two clubs.



An official Arsenal statement read, "Arsenal has confirmed they have agreed terms with Werder Bremen to sign German international defender Per Mertesacker. The deal is subject to the completion of formal registration processes."



In Per Mertesacker the Gunners get a rock solid centre-back with years of experience in the Bundesliga and the German national team. The 26 year old is really tall at 198 cm (6ft 6in) with 75 international caps to his name.



Mertesacker has not travelled much in his professional career which started with home town team Hannover 96, whom he left in 2006 for SV Werder Bremen. Now he makes his 'dream' move to London to join FC Arsenal.



Talking about the move Mertesacker said, "'I had a great time at Werder, and I owe a lot to the club. The move to London is a wish come true, to take another step in my career. The English Premier League has for me always represented an interesting challenge."

Werder Bremen bans players from getting new tattoos

This is most probably the weiriest piece of news information coming out of European football this summer.

German Bundesliga side SV Werder Bremen have come out with an official ban for players not to get new tattoos. It has nothing to do with asthetics, rather the ban has medical reasons only.

It is the example of Hamburger SV's Dutch winger Eljero Elia, who got a new tattoo made in March 2010 and due to infections he had to endure a lengthy and painful injury break. This is what Werder Bremen wants to avoid with their players.

"It is a risk that we need to rule out," the German club's Director of Sports Klaus Allofs told the German newspaper Hamburger Abendblatt.

Interestingly Bremen stars like goalkeeper Tim Wiese, Brazilian defender Naldo and Austrian youngster Marko Arnautovic all sport a number of tattoos. Their opinion on the clubs ban is not known.

Thorsten Frings joins MLS side Toronto FC

Former German international Thorsten Frings was officially introduced yesterday by North American MLS side Toronto FC as a new signing along with Dutch striker Danny Koevermans. Both players come to Canada on free transfers and have signed 'designated player' deals - meaning their contracts fall outside the constrictions of the club's salary cap.

The 34 year old midfielder joins Toronto on recommendation from his former Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann, who is a strategic advisor to the Canadian club. Frings, who made 79 appearances for Germany, had said earlier this year that he would end his career this summer after Bundesliga side SV Werder Bremen did not renew his contract, but in recent weeks it became clear that Frings wanted to continue playing football for a little longer before he retires.

Frings has offers from other Bundesliga sides, his former club Alemannia Aachen who play 2.Bundesliga, clubs from across Europe, the United Arab Emirates and the North American MLS.

"It wasn't a difficult decision for me," Frings said and added, "the first contact came through Juergen Klinsmann and he said a lot of good things about the club. It was clear to be quickly that I want to come here and help the club to improve."

For Toronto FC coach Aron Winter, a former Dutch international, the arrival of Frings and Koevermans adds much needed experience for a team which has only won two matches in the MLS so far and are last in the Eastern Division, but they can still reach the playoffs.

Both Frings and Koevermans are not eligible to play for their new club until July 15. Their MLS debuts are therefore likely to come against FC Dallas on July 20.

Goalkeeper Trouble: Lehmann takes Wiese to court

There is trouble in football Germany between a former and current international goalkeeper of the national. Jens Lehmann, who just made a surprise comeback at FC Arsenal, is suing SV Werder Bremen's Tim Wiese for €20,000 after Wiese suggested Lehmann belonged into a mental clinic.


What had happened?

In September last year Lehmann was the expert of the day for Sky Germany at the game Tottenham Hotspurs vs Werder Bremen UEFA Champions League match and he termed one of the Spurs goal a Wiese blunder by saying, "If he had taken a step out, he would have been able to catch the ball. He should not have stuck himself to the post but rather been more courageous to come out. He can certainly do better."

One needs to know that Wiese has had a strained relationship with Lehmann during their Bundesliga days and Wiese also has said Lehmann wouldn't shake hands with him pre-match. The day after the television criticism Wiese hit back in an interview in the Bild tabloid by saying, "He should go on the Muppet Show - that man belongs on the couch. Maybe he could get help there. But better would be he should check himself into a clinic - preferably a secure unit."

As a reaction Lehmann filed a lawsuit and is demanding compensation as Wiese "violated his personal rights" by making those statements. A Munich court is set to hear the case later this week, but both goalies are unlikely to be in court for the first hearing and it isn't clear what verdict the court would make.

It is surely a case to follow...

Frings looks to retire

Former German international footballer Thorsten Frings is set to retire at the end of this Bundesliga season from club football as per statements from the player in the German media, but there is some confusion at his club who say that he still could extend his contract for another season. Frings has been playing in his second spell for SV Werder Bremen since 2005 and the club is currently fighting relegation from the Bundesliga.

The 34 year old midfielder, who was born in Wuerselen close to Aachen, has played 79 times for Germany and scored 10 goals. He had started his professional career with Alemannia Aachen before moving on to Werder Bremen in 1997. After five years in Bremen he moved on to then champions Borussia Dortmund and only two seasons on he left for German giants FC Bayern Munich. But he could never settle in Bavaria and returned to Werder Bremen for whom he has been playing since 2005.

In his international career Frings played both the 2002 FIFA World Cup and 2008 European Championship finals, with Germany losing on both occasions. But he will also been known for having been suspended for a push and shove on Argentinian players after Germany's quarterfinal penalty shootout victory at the 2006 FIFA World Cup which resulted in Frings being suspended for the semifinal against Italy, which Germany went on to lose.

Frings' international career ended abruptly in October 2008 after coach Joachim Loew dropped him for his no longer strong performances at club level. Fring had been an influential midfielder, more of defensive duties with a great shot and a sure-bet penalty taker.

What Frings will do after his career is unknown, but Werder Bremen would be willing to offer him a role within the club, be it management or coaching. But until then Frings will be fighting to keep Bremen a premier Bundesliga club.

Bundesliga 2010: Tops & Flops

The German Bundesliga after 17 of its 34 rounds is having its usual winter break with no games over a four week period. And it has been an interesting, sometimes crazy first half of the season with Borussia Dortmund as the surprise league leaders and other smaller clubs like Mainz 05, Hannover 96 and SC Freiburg in the top six of the league. Meanwhile league giants Bayern Munich are only fifth, but other clubs like VfL Wolfsburg, Werder Bremen could be fighting relegation while VfB Stuttgart are in the relegation zone. Their club managements will have something to ponder over the holiday break.

Here are the tops and flops of the first half of the 2010/11 Bundesliga season.


TOPS

1. Borussia Dortmund - The Juergen Klopp coached side are one of the youngest teams in the league, but have had an incredible run with 14 wins from 15 matches ater losing their first and then the last match. 43 Points from 17 matches is the second best ever record in the Bundesliga and the youngsters proved their class. Turkish midfielder Nuri Sahin is the man in the middle with captain Roman Weidenfeller the oldest and most experienced player at the back. Young central defenders Mats Hummels and Nevin Subotic have been playing together for a while though still in their early twenties and then there are teenage sensation Mario Goetze and Japanese surprise Shinji Kagawa plus striker Lucas Barrios, who have all played their part. Klopp over the last two and a half years has wisely put together a squad with talent and now they are proving what they can achieve.

2. FSV Mainz 05 - The early league leaders and the biggest of all surprises. Mainz was expected to fight relegation, but from the start they have been on top with great attacking football and a rotation within the team, which allowed coach Thomas Tuchel to keep his young bunch on course. Mainz did have a few bad games towards the end, but still they recovered and are second in the league. And 37 year old Tuchel is the architect of this surprise success. Tuchel is said to be thorough in his match preparations and that has so far paid off.

3. Hannover 96 - Last season after the suicide of goalkeeper Robert Enke the club was totally out of sorts and the team nearly got relegated. This season a number of new players came in, the club has been able to shrug off last seasons events, but coach Mirko Slomka was a top candidate to be fired first. Slomka was able to form a unit and Hannover have stayed amongst the top clubs through the first half of the season. But the question remains if they can retain their form after the break.


FLOPS

1. Werder Bremen - They have been the most consistent German club after Bayern Munich over the last decade, but somehow this season things haven't been going right for the Thomas Schaaf coached side. The club sold Mesut Özil to Real Madrid in the summer, they thought no replacement was needed as they generally have a good squad, but after these five months they have had a rethink and look to strengthen their squad over the winter.

2. VfL Wolfsburg - They took a gamble by signing Steve McClaren as the first English coach in the Bundesliga. So far the experiment has failed, but McClaren wasn't fired as had been expected and has been given more time to turn things around. The Volkswagen backed club has spend millions on players over the years, build infrastructure and now expects the Wolves to be playing in European competitions year in and year out. A tough ask for coach McClaren, who said he doesn't have a team but a group of individuals. He has a few weeks to sort it out otherwise someone else will be given a chance.

3. VfB Stuttgart - In Stuttgart history seems to repeat itself each winter, but it hasn't been as bad as this season. The club is 17th and fighting to stay in the Bundesliga. They fired their coach in autumn like in the last two years, but only named an interim coach in Jens Keller and then brought in Bruno Labbadia before the two matches against Bayern Munich, which the club lost. Like Bremen they lost a player in Sami Khedira to Real Madrid plus Jens Lehmann retired and the club suddenly seemed to lack a leader on the pitch. In the last three years the club has been amongst the best in the second half of the league, in 2007 they actually went on to win the Bundesliga title. But this season it is different and difficult too.

Besiktas Istanbul sign Portuguese duo

Ambitious Turkish SüperLig side Besiktas Istanbul have been quite active in the transfer market by signing two Portuguese internationals in Simao Sambrosa and Hugo Almeida, who will join them once the transfer market opens in January. They join fellow Portuguese Ricardo Quaresma at the Bernd Schuster coached club.

31 year old Simao has been signed for a fee of 900,000 Euros from current Europa League champions Atletico Madrid of Spain and has signed a contract until summer 2013. He leaves Atletico after two and a half years and would earn up to 7,2 Million Euros.

On leaving Atletico Simao said, "It is difficult for me, I can hardly speak because since I came to Atletico I have grown and become a better professional. When I arrived I said I would do my best to win a title and I eventually ended up with two in Europe (the Europa League and the European Super Cup)."

26 year old Hugo Almeida leaves German Bundesliga side Werder Bremen and has signed a contract until 2014, which would guarantee him a salary of 9,15 Million Euros. At Bremen Almeida was their top scorer of the season with nine goals, but had recently been send off due to indiscipline against St. Pauli which forced the club to rethink their offer to extend his contract. Almeida joins Besiktas for a transfer fee of 2 Million Euros.

Besiktas' president has money to spend and wants to be the top club not only in Istanbul, but across Turkey and also target the UEFA Champions League. Currently they are only fifth in the Turkish league and had already spend money in the summer to bring in former Real Madrid star Guti, Portuguese talent Ricardo Quaresma, former German international Roberto Hilbert and Turkish international Mehmet Aurelio amongst others. The club had appointed former German international and Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster as their manager.

Bremen just about make the Champions League

Germany's Werder Bremen can be a mystery side at best. On their day they can beat most sides across Europe, but on a bad day they can be beaten by many sides even from lower divisions. Last night against UC Sampdoria Genoa they once more showed a pathetic display, but like often before in their history in continental competition Bremen somehow got through. Bremen needed a late injury time goal to get into extra time and there they showed glimpses of what the team is capable of. And in the end they ensured that they will once more play in the UEFA Champions League, their sixth appearance in Europe's premier club competition in the last seven years.

Just to recap the match stats over the two legs. Bremen won 3-1 at home six days ago and lost 1-3 after regulation time in Genoa, which meant 30 minutes of extra time and there Peruvian striker Claudio Pizarro scored Bremen's second in the 100th minute, which ended Sampdoria's dream of playing in the Champions League for the first time ever, then with the away goal rule Sampdoria would have had to score two more to get past the Germans.

Bremen had a week of football which is typical for them. They play an attractive attacking game, so their matches are a treat to watch and often before their games you don't know the potential outcome. Like the stock exchange Bremen's stocks can go up and down, often even within a match it is a roller coaster ride like it was against Sampdoria.

In the game last week Bremen and Sampdoria had a mixed first session, but after the break Bremen took control and scored three goals only to concede a late one which kept Sampdoria in the tie. And Bremen should have sealed the tie in the Weserstadion itself with a four, maybe even a five-nil drubbing. And that could have haunted the North Germans as Sampdoria were two-nil up at home after 13 minutes through two Giampaolo Pazzini headers. Sampdoria at this stage were through and Bremen looked awful for more then an hour, but towards the end Sampdoria looked to be tiring still they scored their third through Antanio Cassano. And the Italians thought they had ensured their passage to the Champions League group stages before substitute Markus Rosenberg gave Bremen a third minute injury time lifeline, which Pizarro would follow-up in extra time as he won it for Bremen and ensured their unlikely passage into the Champions League group stage.

Can Oezil make it at Real Madrid?

As I had speculated earlier this week, in the end it was a matter of the transfer fee. The exact fee hasn't been made public, but it is estimated to be in the region of 15 Million Euros. While in Bremen they say they made a good piece of business as Oezil would have been a free agent at the end of the season, Real Madrid say they signed a top talent for a low fee. Now Germany's Mesut Oezil has signed a six year contract with Real Madrid and has fulfilled his wish to join the Spanish giants.

In Spain the media is already going gaga over the Oezil signing. Headlines read in the big sports papers say "sheer raw talent", "the find of the 2010 World Cup" or "the German Zidane". About the last one, is someone is Spain reading my blog??? I had actually written a blog entry about this during the World Cup. Just kidding...

Here the link for those of you interested to read the story: Mesut Oezil - the new Zidane?

But for Oezil all these compliments and high expectations mean a lot of pressure on the shoulders of the 21 year old youngster, who has a lot of talent but who hasn't played through a full Bundesliga season without any ups and downs. Last season at Werder Bremen he started off with a bang, but in the second half of the season never could play on that level again. The same happened at the World Cup, surely he had exceptional games for Germany but also others were he was part of the team but no stand-out. At Real Madrid such ups and downs could mean the bench or sitting in the stands, something which Oezil at this early stage of his career will try to avoid.

And Oezil is rather an introvert. He isn't outgoing like other footballers, rather a calm and quiet person and at Werder Bremen it wasn't the hustle and bustle of a Real Madrid where every step of his can be watched. That he engaged to German pop singer Sarah Connor's sister will surely add to the glamour factor, but nothing that Oezil normally worries about. But he will have Germany team mate Sami Khedira there for companionship which should help both players settle in the Spanish capital. They are the second German pair after 1974 World Cup winners Guenter Netzer and Paul Breitner who play at the same time at the Bernabeu.

I hope that Oezil makes it at Real Madrid and that he has a great career ahead of him. But as written, it will not be easy...

Real Madrid want Oezil

Young Mesut Oezil was one of the stand-out performers of the German national team this summer at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. And such performances are bound to draw interest from some of the biggest clubs in Europe - Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, FC Arsenal and Manchester United have all been linked to the 21 year old from Gelsenkirchen.

Now Spanish giants Real Madrid have taken that interest to the next level by making a first offer for Mesut Oezil to his current club Werder Bremen, but the German Bundesliga side have turned it down. Bremen's Director of Sport Klaus Allofs said, "We have received an unacceptable offer that does not even provide any basis for negotiations."

But this isn't the end of the road for negotiations as Mesut Oezil himself has said that he would love to move to the Spanish capital. Oezil said Saturday after Bremen's German Cup game in Ahlen, "When you have such an opportunity like this, then you want to take it."

Now Real Madrid will have to up their offer as Werder Bremen will also want to cash in on Oezil as he is a free agent at the end of next season which would mean he could leave the North German club on a free transfer. But there could be a deadline on Wednesday, August 18 as Werder Bremen face Sampdoria Genoa in a UEFA Champions League qualifier that day. And if Bremen use Oezil in that match, then he would be blocked for the 2010/11 season to play for another club in European competitions and that would render him somewhat useless to the aims of Real Madrid.

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has recently spoken highly of Oezil, "If he comes, it would certainly be excellent. Oezil would definitely help us." And this means Real's Director of Sport Jorge Valdano will go back to Bremen with an improved offer and see how the Germans react. Like in the case of Oezil's Germany team mate Sami Khedira and his old club VfB Stuttgart, in the end it was a matter of time and money. And Real Madrid surely have the deep pockets, only time could be a factor in this transfer. But when a player wants to leave the releasing club has little options but to let him go and take a hefty transfer fee.

Ballack's unclear future

In the end Michael Ballack and FC Chelsea London couldn't agree on the duration of his new contract, so the English Premier League champions agreed to release him alongside Joe Cole and Juliano Belletti.

Ballack, who has been enjoying his stay in London and had even looked at ending his career with Chelsea, wanted a new two year contract while the London side were only willing to offer him a new one year deal. And this wasn't enough for Ballack who wanted to have his future sorted until summer 2012, so he could focus on his club comeback as well as for the German national team after his injury break and go out on an international high at the European Championships 2012. Ballack was even willing to stay for a reduced salary, which team mate Joe Cole wasn't willing to do.

While Ballack is said to have been surprised while on holiday in Florida for his agent Michael Becker the search for a new club has started. And there is said to be serious interest in Ballack in the transfer market though his high salary could be an issue for potential bidding clubs.

One of the top candidates in signing Ballack is said to be Spanish giants Real Madrid. Their new coach Jose Mourinho is known to be a fan of Ballack since their days together at Chelsea. And Mourinho wants to strengthen his midfield. Prime candidate is said to be Liverpool's Steven Gerrard, but signing the man from the Reds looks difficult and Ballack could be an readily available alternative.

Back in Germany some Bundesliga clubs are said to be interested to bring the German captain back. FC Schalke 04 has shown interest before but with their financial difficulties look unlikely to be able to pay Ballack. Other interested clubs are said to be SV Werder Bremen and VfL Wolfsburg besides his former clubs Bayer 04 Leverkusen and 1.FC Kaiserslautern. Except for Wolfsburg all other clubs would have to look at their spending possibilities before signing Ballack.

Ballack is also said to have a lucrative offer from a club from the United Arab Emirates. Only last week Italian captain Fabio Cannavaro left Juventus Turino to join Al Ahli Dubai. Could he be the next European star to join a UAE club?

There is still ample time until the transfer period is over and someone of the class of Ballack will surely find a club as he is available on a free transfer. Surely a club from Germany, England, Spain or Italy could take him on.

Bayern win German Cup in style

FC Bayern Munich trashed SV Werder Bremen 4-0 in the German Cup (DFB Pokal) final at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin last night.

It was another demonstration of strength by the Bavarian giants, who towards the end of the season are showing what the Louis van Gaal coached side are really made off.

On the night Bayern won a record 15th DFB Pokal title and also their eighth German double of league and cup.


Initially it wasn't just one way traffic for Bayern, but goalkeeper Hans Joerg Butt kept his team in the game as both sides had their chances. But the longer the game lasted the better Bayern got.

But Bayern got their first goal of a penalty after Per Mertesacker handled the ball in the box in the 35th minute and referee Thorsten Kinhoefer pointed to the dreaded spot. And Arjen Robben blasted a left footer into the right hand corner of the Bremen net. Bayern went with a 1-0 lead into the break.

Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf seemed to have found the right words in his half time speech as Bremen came out looking for the equaliser, but they couldn't utilise their chances as Bayern scored their second in the 51st minute when Ivica Olic scored of an Arjen Robben corner.

This seemed to kill Bremen's morale and Bayern added a third in the 63rd minute through Frank Ribery of a counter attack with a placed shot past Bremen keeper Tim Wiese. Bremen were reduced to ten men when captain Thorsten Frings was shown his second yellow card of the game for a rough tackle on Bastian Schweinsteiger. But by this time the match was already decided.

And it was left to Schweinsteiger to add Bayern's fourth in the 83rd minute. Lahm played a long cross ball to the left, Schweinsteiger controlled the ball with his chest before placing the ball past the keeper. A class goal by the German international midfielder.


And Bayern Munich still have to play the season finale, the UEFA Champions League final on Saturday, May 22 against Internationale Milan at the Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid.

Their confidence level will surely have received another boast, but was has been impressive over the last few weeks is the way the team has been playing better and better.

If they can also win the Champions League title then they will achieve a rare treble, something which no German club has ever achieved before. Following in the footsteps of FC Barcelona, who had won a record six titles last year.