What are Florian Kohfeldt's thoughts on Saturday evening's match (April 25th/8:30pm) against SV Elversberg? Where does he see the strengths of their upcoming opponent? And how does his team plan to get back on track after three consecutive defeats? The Darmstadt head coach answered these and other questions at the press conference on Friday (April 24th) in the catacombs of the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. We've summarised Kohfeldt's key statements from the press conference for you.
Personnel update: Luca Marseiler will be unavailable long-term. Matthias Bader (shoulder problems) will also miss Saturday’s match. Fabian Nürnberger will also be absent due to a thigh injury.
It’s a bizarre situation. We’ve lost six games all season, four of them in the last seven matches. We haven’t won in five games, yet we still have 50 points. At this point last year, the third-placed team had that many points. But of course, we had to shake off that Fürth game; of course, we were frustrated. We then had two options: Give in to resignation. Or—and this is the path we’ve chosen—SV Darmstadt 98 can fall, but staying down is not an option. We want to get up, not stay down. I can promise everyone that.
I hope we have everyone on our side who’s at the stadium on Saturday. We need you! We need that spark of unity again. Normally, everything has to come from the team, and we’ll do everything we can, even if not everything works out. But please, everyone, be there from the very beginning.
For several years now, even through changes in coach and manager, they’ve had the same philosophy of football. They’re an attacking team that uses combination play and various build-up patterns to try and create scoring opportunities. This exact style of play has been consistent for years. That’s what makes them so strong and dangerous. They’re difficult to contain when out of possession. Defensively, the team likes to win the ball back, so they often press high. Another huge factor is that they’ve had very few injuries over the past few seasons. They’ve essentially been playing with their first-choice eleven for the last few weeks. This contributes to their cohesion and automatic movements.
We know what we have to do. Above all, we have to be courageous and take action. And continue to believe in what makes us strong. Because there’s a lot there. We’re also fundamentally difficult to contain when we have the ball. We need to be more successful at breaking down the opponent’s last line of defence. Defensively, we have to stay sharp even in chaotic situations like deflected crosses or second and third balls. We need to handle these situations better. We want to radiate a good dose of self-confidence. We really want to win the home game on Saturday evening, even though we’re facing a very strong opponent. We have to utilise the automatic movements we have within us. We have to be 10,000 percent convinced that we’ll win the ball and not just hope that we will. If that comes back—and we’ll have to work for it—it’s going to be a really great Saturday evening.
In Fürth, we nominally fielded almost the same starting eleven we had in mind before the season. Unfortunately, not everyone was in the form we want them to be. That’s the truth. And this very team has delivered thrilling, active, and passionate performances this season. We’re still the team that has earned the most points after falling behind in this league. I don’t want to let anyone talk us into thinking it’s a mentality issue. Nevertheless, I’m giving very careful consideration to how and with which eleven we’ll play on Saturday.
The team is paramount for Fabian Holland. That’s one of his most outstanding qualities. In his statement, he made it clear that his focus is on the last four games. That alone shows how deeply he embodies the team spirit. During my time here, he was unfortunately in rehabilitation for many months after his cruciate ligament tear. I got to know him as an incredibly ambitious and thoughtful person – with a very pleasant family who are deeply rooted here. He is a symbol of the last ten years of Darmstadt. He is and will remain the one who understands and embodies football as a team sport. That’s no longer a given these days. Fabi leaves as an icon and a legend of this club. He more than deserves it.
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: