„A team I rate very highly“

He is a player we pursued very actively. And as we have often said, timing is crucial—especially in the market for strikers. In Milan’s case, the timing worked out in recent weeks in a way that made us say: “This is a player we rate incredibly highly.” Initially, it wasn’t possible at all, but then an opportunity arose, and we did everything we could to sign him. I can speak for both the club and myself as coach: I am incredibly happy to welcome him—and to see him in training for the first time today. He is a player with very clean technical skills; he has a good sense of space and the ability to make runs behind the defence. At the same time, thanks to his size and his performance in the Championship over the last six months, he also brings a great deal of physicality to the table.

Given the limited time we had spent together as a squad, we were actually further along against Kiel than I had anticipated—so I can’t say I expected more. Generally speaking, we controlled the game. However, we only managed to capitalise on that control by turning it into high-tempo attacking plays and converting them into scoring chances on a few isolated occasions.

We made some unforced errors at times. The opposition didn’t create a single scoring chance for themselves; we essentially handed every one of them over. That was a stark contrast to the clear-cut chances we created ourselves. Looking back, that was definitely a key issue.

Nevertheless, it is far more important to me to highlight the players‘ mindset. On the pitch, the team felt they had the game fundamentally under control—and the expectations we held going into our first home match were confirmed: the mentality and the hunger to never give up were abundantly clear. That applied to everyone, both on and off the pitch.

I believe Dynamo was one of the standout teams during the second half of last season. They employ a very possession-oriented, technical style of play—an approach they maintained even when results weren’t going their way—which commands great respect. They stayed the course with their development, a testament to the coach, the squad, and the club itself. They like to build play from the back and frequently make runs into the space behind the defence. In Vermeij, they have a focal point up front who can occupy pockets of space while also making a huge number of runs into depth away from the ball. They managed to retain or permanently sign almost all of last year’s squad. While they lost a key player in Amoako, they brought in Rapp—an incredibly experienced, proven player—to bolster the ranks. They employ a high press—playing with great intensity, especially at home—and they also benefit from a genuine home-field advantage at their stadium.

All in all, I rate this team very highly, not just for our upcoming match but for the season as a whole. I believe they are capable of making a strong impact in the 2. Bundesliga. We have a great deal of respect for them.

There are differences in stadium atmosphere across the 2. Bundesliga. Some players have never experienced anything like it—and, to be honest, I had to learn myself that this can actually influence the game and the player. We will prepare the lads accordingly, especially those who have never played in a stadium like that. After all, the Dresden stadium has an intensity that can really impact the match. But fundamentally, I stand by this: there is nothing better for a footballer than playing in such an atmosphere. For me, handling that is a mark of quality in a player; it makes you better rather than unsettling or intimidating you in any way.