A reflection of the season

“There were many games that were similar to today,” Klaus Gjasula commented in the mixed zone of the Merck Stadium at the Böllenfalltor. SV Darmstadt 98 had once again thrown everything into the balance. The Lilies showed a different face against SC Freiburg after the 4-0 defeat in Mainz at home on Nieder-Ramstädter-Straße and were much more stable. They ran and created numerous scoring opportunities. They fought – even until the pain no longer allowed it, like Fabian Holland. The captain who led the way but ultimately had to be replaced due to injury.

And yet, after the final whistle of the 90 minutes, the opposing team once again bagged the full points. “The usual picture,” Torsten Lieberknecht had to begin his statement about the game as follows at the press conference after the 0-1 defeat against the sports club from Freiburg this season: “Congratulations to the opponent on their victory.” A usual sentence, then it was probably difficult for the Darmstadt head coach to say especially after that afternoon – the South Hesse team were overall the better team in this encounter on matchday 29.

“We were the lucky winners,” admitted Freiburg coach Christian Streich in his open and honest manner: “Darmstadt threw everything into the balance and presented us with big problems. They have a good structure and an outstanding mentality.” Lots of praise from an opponent who has always qualified for the Europa League in the last two seasons and is fighting for a place in Europe again this season.

And the lilies? “Today we did what distinguishes Darmstadt 98,” praised Tobias Kempe, but at the same time complained in his statements that SV 98 were good with the ball, but “unfortunately only up to the penalty area”. Because in the zones where it was supposed to be really dangerous, the lilies once again lacked the final bite – this absolute will to sink the ball into the opponent’s goal at any cost. Lieberknecht: “On the offensive, we lacked conviction when finishing on goal, but also before that when crossing the ball.” A total of 16 Darmstadt shots on goal went unused, while Freiburg, on the other hand, took advantage of one of two dangerous situations in the first half to score the decisive 1-0 winning goal . The small but subtle difference.

“They’re close week after week, but it’s the little things that make the difference in the Bundesliga. Winning a Bundesliga game – and I can say this from my own experience – is extremely difficult,” explained Streich, referring to the SVD, and also made it clear that he was a supporter of the Darmstadt way: “I’m looking at Darmstadt – and although gladly. Because they play good football.” But this good football, which the Lilies certainly didn’t show in all games, doesn’t help them stay in the league in the Bundesliga if no profit is made from the good football. Because this return is measured in points. The Lilies are twelve points behind the relegation place with five games still to play. A Herculean task for the bottom team in the league. In addition, SV Darmstadt 98 was too often too harmless, especially at home. Only six points collected in the Merck Stadium at the Böllenfalltor are by far the lowest home score in the league.

And yet, after the duel with SC Freiburg, the Darmstadt audience especially honoured the commitment and passion shown by SV 98. “They have a good instinct,” emphasised Kempe. It was also unusual that the Lilien fans said goodbye to the opposing coach with applause after a defeat and thus paid their respect to Christian Streich for his decades of work at SCF. “The fact that the Darmstadt fans said goodbye to me today after the final whistle speaks less for me and more for the people here. You could clearly see the culture in this club and this city,” said Streich.

“I love these fans,” emphasised Kempe. As he walked around the stadium along the fences with the outstretched hands of the lily fans, he and his teammates received numerous words of encouragement. For that reason alone, because of these blue and white supporters, said Tobias Kempe, “we have to continue to give it our all in the last games for the region and our fans.”