Victor Boniface’s struggle in front of goal continued as Werder Bremen were held to a 1–1 draw by Mainz in the Bundesliga.
The forward played 64 minutes but was unable to make a significant impact, recording no shots, just two touches in the opposition box, two clearances, and four recoveries.
His goalless run now stretches to seven games.
After the match, Bremen head coach Horst Steffen openly criticized Boniface’s performance:
“He tried to hold onto the ball up front. Today I thought to myself: Come on, he can do even better.”
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Head coach Horst Steffen of SV Werder Bremen looks on, Victor Boniface on bench. (Photo | Getty Images)
This is not the first time Steffen has singled out Boniface.
Following Werder’s 3–0 loss to Freiburg on September 20, he said:
“He was too ‘everywhere’ for me. He should definitely be more centrally located. It wasn’t how I wanted it.”
Despite the criticism, Steffen has made it clear that his comments are performance based rather than personal.
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He also addressed his entire squad after the Mainz game:
“We had to do a lot of chasing, and our tackling and intensity weren’t as good as they should have been.”
Managing director Clemens Fritz echoed the sentiment, adding:
“I don’t know what was going on today. We can do more than that; we need to be more alert and active!”
Werder Bremen will now turn their attention to their next Bundesliga clash against Wolfsburg.
Boniface will be eager to end his goal drought and deliver a strong performance to help his side climb the table as they are seated 9th on the table.
For a player of his talent, both the club and fans will be hoping he rediscovers his scoring touch sooner rather than later.
