Werder Bremen coach Horst Steffen criticizes Nigeria forward Victor Boniface after flat display in Mainz draw

Werder Bremen manager Horst Steffen has criticized the performance of Nigeria international Victor Boniface in their game against Mainz 05.

Boniface, who is on loan from Bayer Leverkusen has come under intense pressure following his below-par performance in the Bundesliga clash on Saturday.

After a bright start in the previous game, expectations were high for the Nigerian international, but his display was notably subdued.

Boniface played full throttle of the match, as his outfit settled for a 1-1 draw with Mainz 05. The forward struggled to influence the match positively, failing to score or assist a goal and also completing only 53 percent of his passes and registering just 28 touches.

After the game, Steffen didn’t mince words, criticizing the performance pf the Nigeria international.

“He tried to hold onto the ball up front. Today I thought to myself: Come on, he can do even better,” the coach stated.

This isn’t the first time the 24-year-old has faced public criticism. Following a 0-3 loss to Freiburg, Steffen highlighted issues with the striker’s positioning, saying:

“He was too ‘everywhere’ for me. He should definitely be more centrally located. It wasn’t how I wanted it.”

Boniface, who is on loan from Leverkusen, has now made seven league appearances for Werder but is yet to score, though he has one assist.

His struggles have been compounded by lingering injuries and reports that he is still carrying extra weight, which has affected his pace and mobility.

Despite the technical ability Boniface possesses, these physical issues have hampered his impact. Steffen is, however, remaining patient about the adaptation process, noting that the striker needs time.

“He is still on his way, but it’s a long one,” the coach concluded, underscoring that improvement from Boniface will be crucial for the team moving forward.