Florian Kohfeldt spoke at the press conference ahead of the match against Hannover 96 (April 11th/8:30pm) about the fast-paced first game, the strong opponent, and the squad. We've compiled the most important statements from our head coach for you.
Personnel update: Luca Marseiler (torn cruciate ligament), Isac Lidberg and Kai Klefisch (both suspended due to yellow cards) are not available.
We really struggled in Bielefeld. It was probably our worst game of the season. We couldn’t find any solutions, neither individually nor as a team. These things happen, but it stands out because it’s rarely been the case for us.
I have great confidence in the group and in our ability to deliver a different performance and find different solutions against Hannover. I don’t sense any loss of confidence, not even within the team. I’m looking forward to the home game on Saturday evening against a top opponent who’s currently one place below us in the standings. We’re excited for the match, want to approach it with confidence, and bring our strengths to the pitch.
We know about Hannover’s unique style of play. They play very aggressively off the ball and use a lot of man-to-man marking all over the pitch. They’re very patient in attack. Hannover has an incredible number of options in their squad. Especially in attack, they practically have two players for every position.
Perhaps that’s the difference compared to the Bielefeld game. Bielefeld surprised us a bit. Now we know what to expect. We’re excited and confident in ourselves. We’re still in an incredibly exciting situation right now, and we want to project that image.
In recent months, we haven’t been able to replicate our home form away from home. Now we have a home game. We know that, regardless of the opponent, we’ve consistently performed well and always earned at least a point, most recently playing a very good home game against Schalke. That gives us a good feeling, but of course, it’s no guarantee.
It’s pointless to look at the table; so much can still happen before the end of the season. We want to make sure we’re playing for something positive for as long as possible.
Let’s all look forward to a game like this. I can shout it to our office staff, the players, and the fans: We are Darmstadt 98, and we’re in an absolutely fantastic situation, and we should be excited about it and let that shine through. We’ll ignore the table; this game is going to be awesome.
We need to decide whether we want to field a very mobile attacking lineup or a single target man. Fynn and Bartosz are our target men. If we want to play more flexibly up front, we can move Fraser into that position.
Regarding the double pivot, we’ve always said that if Kai is unavailable, Mey is the player who, alongside Hiro, maintains the balance in our game with his physicality and tackling ability. Mey is certainly the favourite for that position in a double pivot.
That was probably one of the best second-division matches of the season. As my colleague from ARD said, „A game that should never end.“ It wasn’t a festival of errors; almost everything that happened was well-executed, and it was a pretty awesome game. It would be great if we could see another game like that, ideally with the same result.
You’re always nervous when you’re not directly involved. If I were a fan, I’d have a beer at 7pm and then head to the stadium relaxed. (laughs) It’s going to be a close game. Both teams are top teams in the league. Both teams are attack-minded. Hannover has a very clear possession-based style, and we’re probably a bit more versatile in all attacking aspects. There will be a lot of close, small moments that will decide the game.
On Sunday, the Lilies face a challenge in Baden: for the 8th matchday, SV Darmstadt 98 travel to take on Karlsruher SC. At the pre-match press conference, our head coach discussed the squad situation, the qualities of the opposition, and the team's motivation to get back to winning ways on the road.
On Sunday (October 18th), SV Darmstadt 98 will visit Karlsruher SC. KSC has a history that extends well beyond the confines of German football: the club from Baden once caused a stir on the European stage, writing a chapter that is still remembered today. But how did KSC manage to step into the international spotlight, and what made this success so special?
The next away match is coming up: this Sunday (October 18th, 1:30pm), the Lilien will visit Karlsruher SC for the 8th matchday of the 2. Bundesliga. As always, you can find all the essential information regarding travel and your visit to the stadium in the fan guidelines.
SV Darmstadt 98 invites all its members to come to the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor on November 1st, 2026, starting at 11:30am. Together, we aim to once again create the largest team photo in our club’s history—with the professional players in the front and the entire Lilies family behind them.
On Sunday (Oct 18th), SV Darmstadt 98 will visit Karlsruher SC. The side from Baden differs from the Lilies in several key respects. Furthermore, the match will see SV 98 cross paths with a former player once again. Find out here about other connections between the two clubs, as well as some particularly interesting statistics ahead of the encounter.
On Tuesday evening (October 13th), the SilberLilien took part in SV Darmstadt 98’s Stolperstein tour for the first time. Along the approximately six-kilometre route, the participants made several stops to learn more about the fates of Jewish club members who were persecuted and driven out during the Holocaust.
From new grassroots sports offerings and a look back at the club's history to birthdays and the latest updates from the media briefing—there is plenty to report from SV Darmstadt 98 again this week. In "Lilien Across the Board," we round up the news, insights, and stories from life at the club.
Tickets for the home match against 1. FC Heidenheim on November 22nd are available for purchase now.
SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team proved their mettle at home against KSV Hessen Kassel II in the Hessenliga on Sunday (Oct. 11th). After a convincing 90-minute performance, the Young Lilies secured another three points, finishing with a decisive 4–0 victory that lifts them to sixth place in the standings.
The Lilies overturned an early deficit to celebrate a 3–1 home victory against Energie Cottbus—a win that boosts confidence and confirms the progress being made. Read our analysis to find out why there is still work to be done and what positives SV 98 takes away from the match.
This season, too, Lilien fans will be doubly rewarded for every home goal scored by SV Darmstadt 98. In addition to the joy and excitement of the goals, the team's supporters will receive 98 litres of Krombacher Pils for every home goal scored by Darmstadt at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor.
After the international break, Darmstadt 98 returned to the Bölle with a home win! Against Energie Cottbus, SV Darmstadt 98 put on a spirited performance in front of their home crowd and rewarded themselves with three points after an intense match. We've compiled the post-match reactions for you here: