What makes Hertha BSC so strong in this 2. Bundesliga season? What kind of match can fans at Berlin's Olympic Stadium expect? And what's the mood like within the SV Darmstadt 98 squad? At the press conference on Friday (January 30th), Darmstadt head coach Florian Kohfeldt answered these and other questions. We've summarised the most important statements for you.
Personnel update: Matthias Bader, Bartosz Bialek and Killian Corredor remain sidelined with injuries. All other players are available.
Hertha remains the undisputed top favourite in the league. Along with Hannover, they boast the strongest squad in terms of individual talent. Hertha, along with us, is the most in-form team in the league, having earned 19 points from their last ten matches. While they started the second half of the season with two draws, they were clearly the better team in both games – especially in their home match against Schalke. They were also very dominant at the end of the second half in Karlsruhe. We’re facing a team with a lot of attacking quality. Overall, their squad possesses incredible quality. They have players who really shouldn’t be playing in the second division – like Reese, Cuisance, and Kownacki. Compared to the first leg, they also have Seguin, who provides a real rhythm on the pitch. And Dardai is the most technically gifted centre-back in the league. Defensively, they’ve lost their most aggressive defender with Zefuuik suspended, but they are still very well-coordinated and press with a clear system.
We can certainly look forward to a top-class match. Hertha is an opponent we’ve studied very intensively, and we had to. They’ve certainly done the same for us. We can cause them problems with our style of play. Therefore, I’m looking forward to a top-class match. And top matches are usually decided by the smallest of margins. So we’re very focused and looking forward to a heated game in cold Berlin.
The mood in the team – and this is how I see it – is basically the same as it has been all season. We were happy about the win and the performance against Nürnberg. On Wednesday, we analysed the Nürnberg game, focusing on what we can learn from it. Then, at the beginning of the week, we had some really excellent, high-intensity, and very sharp training sessions. So, our focus immediately shifted back to the next game. We’re confident, focused, and really eager. These are generally good conditions. We’re concentrating solely on Berlin and nothing else. We’re concentrating on our actions, what we want to do, and how we want to do it. That’s an important attitude. It’s about never losing your head, even if you concede a goal. It’s about staying grounded and concentrating on what you’re doing. And that’s exactly what the lads are doing.
Fabian Holland and Fabian Nürnberger are both options for the starting eleven again. Niklas Schmidt completed a very intensive training session on Wednesday without any problems; the intensity was roughly equivalent to 60 to 70 minutes of a match. Therefore, based purely on his fitness level, he would certainly be an option to start for around 60 minutes. We’re talking about the positions he can play, but also about key players. Everyone who plays in his positions is that extra bit sharper because they know someone has joined the team who can also play there very well. For a coach, that’s a fantastic situation.
From the very beginning of this transfer window, we said that after Meldin Dreskovic’s departure, we wanted to bring in someone for the centre-back position – a player with potential for development. I can say that we’ve made significant progress in our search.
Autographs, photos, and personal encounters with the Lilies: You'll have the opportunity to do so on Thursday (May 7th) from 5pm to 6pm. As part of an autograph session presented by Merck, Patric Pfeiffer, Kai Klefisch, and Fynn Lakenmacher will be at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. You'll also receive a ten percent discount in the fan shop during this time.
Darmstadt's 2-1 defeat at Karlsruher SC also ended any remaining theoretical hopes the South Hessian club had of finishing the season in the top three. The loss at the Wildpark stadium served somewhat as a symbol for the past few weeks, during which SV 98 had only managed one point from five matches since the international break in March. Following the game on Sunday afternoon, the Darmstadt players addressed the assembled media representatives with mixed feelings.
Three points! SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team secured a victory in the Lotto Hessenliga on Saturday afternoon (May 2nd). In their match against Hünfelder SV, the young Lilies overcame an early deficit to clinch a convincing 3-1 win. This result puts the U21 team currently outside the relegation zone. "Our trend is clearly upward," said a delighted U21 coach Sebastian Schmitt.
The successful collaboration between the Hessian Disabled and Rehabilitation Sports Association (HBRS) and SV Darmstadt 98 will continue long-term: Both partners have extended their existing agreement to promote inclusive sports indefinitely. This sends a clear signal for the sustainable development of inclusion and disability sports in Hesse.
A bitter end in Karlsruhe: After 90 entertaining minutes in which both teams sought salvation in attack, Darmstadt suffered a narrow defeat. The final score was 2-1 after a late goal from the home side, following Isac Lidberg's earlier equaliser. After the match, the players were particularly frustrated with the missed opportunities in the first half.
The away form continues to be poor: SV 98 suffered a 2-1 (0-0) defeat against Karlsruher SC. Lidberg scored the equaliser for the team from southern Hesse in the 70th minute.
Darmstadt 98 visit Karlsruher SC on matchday 32 (May 3rd, 1:30 PM). Florian Kohfeldt has made five changes to his starting lineup. Killian Corredor replaces the injured Fraser Hornby, Aleksandar Vukotic comes in for the suspended Patric Pfeiffer, and Fabian Holland starts in place of Matej Maglica, who is sidelined with an ankle injury. Merveille Papela and Niklas Schmidt also join the team, replacing Sergio Lopez and Yosuke Furukawa. In addition to Hornby, Pfeiffer, and Maglica, Darmstadt will also be without the injured Matthias Bader, Fabian Nürnberger, and Luca Marseiler.
Finally, the weekend is here, finally Sunday! On Sunday afternoon (May 3rd, 1:30pm), SV Darmstadt 98 will face Karlsruher SC away. What do the two coaches have to say about the match, who will be refereeing, and where can you watch it if you're not at the stadium? All the important information about the Lilies' 32nd matchday is compiled for you here in "Matchday Guide".
Continuity in sporting management: SV Darmstadt 98 has extended Paul Fernie's contract early and for the long term. As part of the contract extension, the current sporting director will move into the club's management board and will now serve as managing director of sport.
Our head coach spoke at the press conference before the away game against Karlsruher SC (May 3rd/1:30pm) about the mental freshness of his team, the course of action for the remaining games and his coaching colleague, whose commitment to KSC will end after six years this season.
Left hook, 'One hundred and eightyyyyyyy', and hand over the baton. Doesn't sound like football – and that's true. KSC is often associated with professional football, but with the sheer number of titles the club has won, it's worth looking beyond the pitch. Titles from Baden-Württemberg to Rome.
In a rescheduled Lotto Hessenliga match, SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team hosted SV Hummetroth at their youth academy on Wednesday evening (April 29th) but unfortunately came away empty-handed. Despite a spirited performance and playing with one man less, the score after 90 minutes was 3-1 in favour of Hummetroth.