Werder Bremen’s regular goalkeeper: Michael Zetterer.Image: IMAGO images / Jan Huebner
The ball has been rolling in the 2nd Bundesliga and the 3rd League for a few weeks now, and this weekend the first division teams are starting the new season. The first matchday may not have arrived yet, but the first round of the DFB Cup is.
In this context, Werder Bremen will face Energie Cottbus on Monday. Although there are certainly more pleasant tasks than an away game against a third division promoted team that has already played two games this season, the Hanseatics go into the match as clear favorites.
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Michael Zetterer is probably aware of this too. “We are ready for Monday,” said the Bremen goalkeeper in a media round on Wednesday. For him, this game in Cottbus is the starting signal for something new.
Michael Zetterer now wears the number one shirt at Werder Bremen
Although he has been under contract with Werder Bremen since 2015, he is now starting the season as the first-choice goalkeeper. He fought for the place between the posts last season; his former rival Jiří Pavlenka left the Bundesliga club in the summer.
“It was something special to drive here on the first day and know that you are going into the season with this role and task”said Zetterer about his new status. This also means that the goalkeeper can now wear the number one on his back: “Going into the new season with that number is of course a nice feeling. That completes the picture.”
But things could have turned out differently. The 29-year-old’s strong performances in the previous season did not go unnoticed by other clubs. Not even the absolute top clubs. At least that is what a report by Fabrizio Romano says.
Manchester City had Werder’s Zetterer in their sights as number one
On X, the transfer expert writes that Manchester City has specifically thought about Zetterer. If Ederson had left the English champions, the Bremen player would have been the first option to replace the Brazilian. Mind you, as a regular goalkeeper, not just as an addition to the squad.
Ederson was linked with a move to Saudi Arabia for weeks. However, after several discussions, including with coach Pep Guardiola, the goalkeeper recently ruled out a summer transfer. “It’s over. We’ll stay at City for a few more years”he said at ESPN.
According to Romano, Werder Bremen cannot rest completely safe yet. Although he will start the season in Germany, three other, unnamed clubs from England could still try to sign him.
The transfer window in England closes at midnight on August 30, so Bremen will have to worry about Zetterer’s whereabouts for a few more days.
It was only a week ago that Deniz Undav happily walked into the offices of the people in charge in Stuttgart and greeted someone with a friendly handshake every few meters. The whole thing was then widely reported on social media, after all, they had been trying to win back the 28-year-old for weeks and were more than pleased.
