Victor Boniface’s barren run in front of goal stretched to seven games as Werder Bremen were held to a 1–1 draw by Mainz in their latest Bundesliga outing.
The Nigerian forward struggled to make an impact during his 64 minutes on the pitch, failing to record a single shot while managing just two touches inside the opposition box. He also contributed two clearances and four recoveries in a subdued display.
After the match, head coach Horst Steffen didn’t shy away from sharing his thoughts on Boniface’s performance.
“He tried to hold onto the ball up front. Today I thought to myself, “Come on, he can do even better,” Steffen remarked.
It’s not the first time the Bremen boss has been critical of the striker. Following their 3–0 defeat to Freiburg on September 20, he commented:
“He was too ‘everywhere’ for me. He should definitely be more centrally located. It wasn’t how I wanted it.”
Steffen has since clarified that his remarks are not personal digs but performance-based feedback meant to help Boniface rediscover his sharpness.
The coach also voiced concerns about the team’s overall display after the Mainz result.
“We had to do a lot of chasing, and our tackling and intensity weren’t as good as they should have been,” he said.
Managing director Clemens Fritz echoed the frustration, challenging the players to show more energy in upcoming fixtures.
“I don’t know what was going on today. We can do more than that; we need to be more alert and active!” Fritz added.
Currently sitting ninth in the Bundesliga table, Werder Bremen will next face Wolfsburg. Boniface, eager to end his scoring drought, will be looking to deliver a performance that reminds fans why he’s regarded as one of the league’s most promising forwards.
For both the player and the club, the next few matches could prove pivotal in turning their season’s momentum around.
