Bremen adjust to life without Ozil

Werder Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf expects the team he already has in place to cover for the loss of star playmaker Mesut Ozil.

The Germany World Cup star has left the club for Real Madrid, just 12 months after Bremen had to adapt to life without another key player Diego, who departed for Juventus.

"We know that we are not any stronger and that we have lost his qualities, but from my experience from recent years, when somebody has left the team, then the others get stronger and they give more and do more," he said.

Bremen director of sport Klaus Allofs has already ruled out bringing Diego back to the club even though the Brazilian is on the market again and attracting interest from Bundesliga rivals Wolfsburg.

"We have got to remember why he left a year ago," explained Allofs. "Sure, he was happy here, but he was given the chance to play at Juve and earn far more money and they are wages that we cannot pay.

"We cannot buy a player back like him, no matter how attractive it sounds.

"Financially, it is impossible."