The German Football League welcomes the return of two of its most prestigious clubs to the elite ranks this season with the promotion of Freder Bremen and Schalke 04 to the Bundesliga after one season of relegation.

Although both teams spent one season in the second division, their approach to returning to the elite clubs, trying to stay and even fighting for the top positions was different.

Bremen, who have won the league title four times, most recently in 2004, in addition to six titles in cup competitions, chose to stick to the essence of the team that secured a direct qualification ticket to the first division by winning it. and runner-up to Schalke 04 but added some names such as defenders Niklas Stark and Amos Bieber who will look to help the four-time Bundesliga champion improve his backline.

Bremen will also have a British flair for the 2022-23 season, including Derby’s England under-21 international Lee Buchanan and Scot’s Oliver Burke, who spent a season in the German league with Leipzig in 2016-17.

And most importantly for the green-and-white club, he held onto coach Uli Werner, a 34-year-old who is considered one of Germany’s best young coaches.

Bremen were in tenth place last season when manager Markus Anfang was forced to resign after it was revealed that he provided the club with fake Corona virus vaccination certificates, giving Werner the opportunity to take over the job.

Werner managed to correct the team’s trajectory, winning 14 of the season’s remaining 20 matches, allowing him to climb to the top of the standings before finishing the season in second place.

Werner was realistic when asked at a press conference on Thursday about the club’s ambitions, saying: “Our goal should be to stay in the first division and continue playing in the Bundesliga next year.”

Bremen kick off their Premier League campaign on Saturday at home with Wolfsburg.

– Wholesale update in Schalke –

Situation in Schalke 04, seven times league champion, last in 1958, five times cup winner, last in 2011, and Europa League Europa League once in 1997, which was one of the participants semi-final of the 2011 Champions League, is completely different from Bremen, as it adopted the approach of a complete renewal in the team, trying not to repeat what happened to it in the 2020-2021 season, when it was content with just three victories, and in April it was decided to promotion to the second division.

Despite winning the second division title and a direct qualification to the first division, Schalke ignored the problem of technical stability by signing 12 new contracts, as well as hiring a new coach in the form of Frank Kramer.

Cramer will replace Mike Baskins, a fan favorite not only because he defended the club for 11 years, but also because, as a manager, he led the club to victory in eight of the last nine games of last season, which allowed him to contribute to the achievement peaks and ensure its return among the elderly.

Cramer’s official start was very promising, with a big win over Bremer SV in the fourth division 5-0 in the first round of the German Cup.

But he urged his players to “remain vigilant” in anticipation of the toughest test against Bundesliga teams, saying ahead of Sunday’s opening game against Cologne: “Preparation for the season is over, it’s time to play.”

Despite spending last season in the second division, Schalke 04 remain one of the most popular clubs in Germany, with more than 70,000 Fans’ Day at the end of July, quite different from the turmoil that occurred after how the team was relegated this season. before last. .