What does it take to be successful at 1. FC Nürnberg on Friday evening (January 31st/6:30pm)? How does Florian Kohfeldt assess the opposing team? And what does the head coach of SV Darmstadt 98 say about his team's decision-making on offense? You can read the answers here. We have summarised Kohfeldt's most important statements from the press conference on Wednesday (January 29th).
Personnel update: Paul Will, Matthias Bader, Christoph Zimmermann, Fabian Holland, Othmane El Idrissi and Isac Lidberg are out. Isac has returned to full team training this week and should then be an issue for the squad again for the home game against Elversberg.
I’m looking forward to a duel under floodlights with one of the biggest traditional clubs in Germany. I really like playing on Friday evenings. The team likes it too. That’s why we’re all looking forward to it.
Nürnberg is a very attacking and strong team. They move around a lot and don’t play in fixed positions much, but rather move out of the rooms. Therefore, they are difficult to grasp and it is difficult to create a classic pressing against them. They also score a lot of goals and have high quality offensively.
As before almost every game in this league: it is possible for both teams to win the game. It will depend a lot on your performance and form on the day. I don’t see a clear favourite. For us it will be important to play a game again after the winter break in which all phases of the game fit together. In Düsseldorf we had a phase game. Our issue against Paderborn was creating scoring chances, which we didn’t do with the quality we wanted. However, we defended very well during the game. That’s why it’s important that we get all phases of the game together againstNürnberg. Then I see good opportunities to win the game.
Before every game, I prepare the team with maximum enthusiasm, maximum focus and maximum expectations of the team to show their best possible performance and win a game. Before my first game against Braunschweig I didn’t look at the table – and now before Nürnberg I’m not doing it either. All I care about is that we focus on our performance and what we want. And that’s always winning a game.
We have very specific ideas for each opponent, but so far this has rarely translated into personnel changes. This is the first time we’ve had two games in a row in which we weren’t satisfied with our own expectations of our performance. The boys who played in the starting line-up for long stretches have earned the trust. Nevertheless, every week we think carefully about what suits the opponent in order to be able to push our game idea through. This can be a formation, a change in personnel or a very basic tactical orientation.
We often failed against Paderborn because of the little moments – receiving the ball, making one or two contacts, going towards the chain or playing the deep ball. However, I see progress in our occupation of space. We are further ahead than, for example, in the games in which we scored five goals. Now we have to take the next step on this basis. The topic is the individual decisions, but also the necessity of making them without being hectic. Getting into the space is rarely a problem. But we are not as clear in our decisions as we want to be. The problem is not exclusive to us: Paderborn deserved to win, for us it was a deserved defeat. Nevertheless, they didn’t create a clear scoring opportunity against us. Our job now is to find solutions. Measured against our own standards, we want to be even more precise.
I have not yet had personal contact with Miroslav Klose. He is one of the most outstanding players to ever play for Werder. As a player, I really enjoyed watching him play football – not just in Bremen, but especially in the national team. He is one of the greatest personalities we have in German football. I am therefore very much looking forward to meeting him in person on Friday.
Paderborn was able to run eight kilometers more than us because they gave us the ball and therefore had to run more. We had just over 60 percent possession of the ball. This means that the opposing team automatically runs more of the total distance. But what is important to me: In the intensive parameters such as intensive runs or sprints, we were on a par with Paderborn. Overall, our 118 total kilometers were absolutely fine.
SV Darmstadt 98 informed all season ticket holders about the season ticket procedure for the 2026/27 season on Wednesday (May 6th) and would also like to share this letter on the club's own website.
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.