BERLIN, May 28 - When Werder Bremen take on Bayer
Leverkusen in the German Cup final on Saturday (1800 GMT), it
will be their last chance to salvage a European spot from an
otherwise hapless season.
The pre-season Bundesliga favourites, who ended up in 10th
place after showing only occasional sparks of their brilliance,
also missed out on European glory, losing in the UEFA Cup final
to Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk last week.
With playmaker Diego joining Juventus at the end of the
season, Werder are asking the Brazilian to put in one final
breath-taking performance to win the cup.
Mercurial Diego has been sparkling when it really mattered,
at time almost single-handedly guiding them further in their
competitions.
His suspension from the UEFA Cup final was crucial, leaving
Werder with no creative play in midfield and no trophy.
"This (German Cup) match is the most important one, not only
during my time at Werder but the most important one of my life,"
Diego said.
"I am happy to be able to give something back to Werder for
all their devotion. I am fully motivated for this."
Coach Thomas Schaaf, rumoured to be on his way out at the
end of the season after 10 years, will have captain Frank
Baumann and Sebastian Boenisch back in the squad as he bids to
bring back the cup after Werder's last triumph in 2004.
BAYER COLLAPSE
Leverkusen coach Bruno Labbadia had also imagined his season
differently after sitting in fifth place halfway through. But
his young team's second round collapse, including eight defeats,
saw them crash out of the European spots, finishing a
disappointing ninth.
His job is now on the line, with defeat in the final
seemingly sealing his fate after club officials called the
season so far "unsatisfactory."
Leverkusen can play stunning, fast-paced football when two
of the league's most dangerous strikers, Stefan Kiessling and
Patrick Helmes, are in top form and Brazilian midfielder Renato
Augusto orchestrates the attacks.
However, since their sensational 4-2 German Cup
quarter-final win over Bayern Munich, Leverkusen have failed to
replicate their good form, needing extra time to oust Mainz 05
4-1 in the last four.
Captain Simon Rolfes is fully fit to play in their third
final appearance and Labbadia can only hope his strikers will be
in the mood for goals to win their first German Cup since 1993.
(Writing by Karolos Grohmann, Editing by Rex Gowar; to query
or comment on story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)