When the Werder Bremen management team sat down to analyse their appalling season, which very nearly ended with relegation, one of the factors they identified was the under-performance of some of their key players. Without mentioning names, midfielder Maxi Eggestein’s ears might have been burning with the 23-year-old not reaching the levels he had in the previous season.
In fact the case of the older Eggestein brother reflects the difference between the Werder Bremen of 2018-19 with the side that struggled through the 2019-20 campaign. The former season saw him full of dynamism, potential and eye-catching performances, the latter saw him lacking something, struggling to capture anywhere near his top form and fighting relegation rather than eyeing Europe.
Such was the level he reached with the Grün-Weißen in 2018-19, that he was called up to the German national team by trainer Joachim Löw in March for the internationals against the Netherlands and Serbia. Werder ended the season in eighth- missing out on a place in the Europa League by a single point. Eggestein was a key player, playing every game, scoring five goals, and providing four assists. Indeed, he began the season with four Bundesliga goals in the opening eight matches (with three scored from outside the box).
This however was not the Maxi Eggestein Werder saw this season.
His summer break was shorter last year due to his participation in the U-21 European Championships in Italy, so beginning the season with a lack of complete freshness may have played a part. But does that explain his rather forgettable season? It was really only after the corona virus restart that we saw anything like the real Maxi Eggestein.
One goal and three assists throughout the season was his return compared to five goals, four assists the year before). His Kicker average rating fell from 3.14 in 2018-19 to 3.81 this season. On most other metrics, this season has seen a relative decline in his performances.
|
2019-20 |
2018-19 |
|
|
Shots on target % |
26.2% |
34.1% |
|
Passing accuracy |
77.6 |
79.5 |
| Progressive distance | 6443 |
7227 |
|
Shot creating actions |
67 | 84 |
|
Tackles in midfield 1/3 |
25 |
34 |
| Pressures in midfield 1/3 | 250 |
342 |
|
Carries |
1222 | 1436 |
|
Tackles won |
32 |
47 |
|
Recoveries |
320 |
368 |
|
Minutes played |
2855 |
3052 |
| Matches played | 32 |
34 |
Florian Kohfeldt however maintains absolute faith in the player. Even though finances are tight at the Weser Stadion and players will be sold if the right offer comes in (Jiri Pavlenka, Davy Klaasen) it would be hard to imagine Werder selling Eggestein. What they need is the Maxi Eggestein from 2018-19 to return and spearhead a revival at the club that went from the brink of Europe to the brink of 2. Bundesliga in the space of 12 months.
He may be just 23, but he will be looked to next season to provide an example for the younger players that Werder are looking to promote to the first team. The pressure is off him a little too. He was very much in the spotlight at the start of this season with a huge expectation that after 2018-19 he would push on. There were even reports in some publications that he was the ‘new Toni Kroos’!
Florian Kohfeldt (and every Werder fan) would very much like Eggestein back to his best next season. In Maxi we trust?
