Schaaf warns Bremen players to keep final focus

WERDER BREMEN coach Thomas Schaaf has warned his side they have achieved nothing yet this season despite reaching the finals of both the UEFA Cup and DFB-Pokal (German Cup).

Bremen flew out to Istanbul on Monday ahead of tonight’s UEFA Cup showdown with Shakhtar Donetsk (7.45pm, live on ITV and Setanta Ireland). European success would be a huge boost after a disappointing Bundesliga campaign for Bremen – they will finish 10th – but Schaaf warned against complacency.

“We don’t have anything in our hands yet, apart from the tickets to Istanbul,” he said before departure.

However, director of sport Klaus Allofs believes his side have what it takes to win tonight, having proven their cup pedigree this season.

“For finals like this, you need a special mentality,” he said. “The team showed they have this against Hamburg.”

Bremen have knocked out Hamburg in the semi-finals of the two cup competitions and also beaten them in the Bundesliga over the last four weeks.

Chief creative force Diego is, though, suspended for tonight’s final after picking up a yellow card in the second leg of the semi-final.

Mesut Ozil should take over his playmaker role behind strikers Claudio Pizarro and either Markus Rosenberg or Aaron Hunt.

Shakhtar fans are flocking to Turkey hoping to see their side secure the first European trophy for a Ukrainian side.

And midfielder Dario Srna also hopes the Turkish spectators in the stadium will get behind his side.

Srna has still not forgotten Euro 2008 when he was part of the Croatia team which conceded an equaliser to Turkey in stoppage time at the end of extra time before going out of the competition on penalties.

“I hope the Turkish fans support me and Shakhtar,” he said.

“I long to take this trophy home as compensation.”

Coach Mircea Lucescu has another motivation.

“It is the last ever final of the UEFA Cup,” said the 63-year-old Romanian.

Next year the revamped tournament will be known as the UEFA Europa League so tonight’s winner will get to keep the trophy.

Shakhtar have only one injury doubt with Brazilian midfielder Jadson hoping to recover from a muscle injury. William is on standby.