Eintracht Frankfurt - Werder Bremen preview - Schaaf relishing Bremen reunion

Posted Saturday, December 06, 2014 by PA

Eintracht Frankfurt coach Thomas Schaaf is relishing a "special" reunion with his former employers when his side host Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga on Sunday.

Schaaf spent four decades at Bremen, ending a 14-year spell as head coach in May 2013.

He took a year out from the game before accepting an offer from Frankfurt in the summer and now, for the first time, is plotting to beat his former club.

"It is going to be special because I'll get to see my new team play for the first time against the club I spent a long, long time working at and because I will see a lot of familiar faces," Schaaf said.

One of those familiar faces is current Bremen coach Viktor Skripnik, who played under Schaaf for many years, including in the 2004 double-winning season.

However, the 44-year-old is treating the game like any other and not going to let the occasion get to him.

"We're both professionals doing our own jobs," he said. "Before the game, everybody is focused on their own job, then afterwards we will see what happens.

"It's an honour to be able to go up against him. He doesn't yet know me as a coach and how I prepare my players, but I do know how he ticks on the other hand."

Neither coach is likely to spring any surprises in their team selections, with both picking up wins last weekend.

That should mean another start for Bremen's 19-year-old forward Davie Selke, who inspired them to a 4-0 win over Paderborn. He continues to take the place of the injured Franco Di Santo.