In the run-up to the home game against Eintracht Braunschweig (September 14th/1pm), Florian Kohfeldt answered questions from the journalists present on Thursday (September 12th). How did the first week as head coach of the Lilies go? How great is the anticipation for its premiere at the Bölle? And how does he view the upcoming opponent? We have summarised the most important statements for you.
Personnel update: Paul Will, Matthias Bader and Fabian Holland are missing with cruciate ligament injuries, and Oscar Vilhelmsson is still out with adductor problems.
Of course you don’t want someone seriously injured in the first week. This is tragic, especially for the players. Otherwise, my impression is entirely positive, especially of the team. We had three very intensive sessions. By that I don’t mean that we just walked. We tried to bring a lot of tactical things and game principles into the team. I am also very satisfied with the learning progress. There was a small moment on Tuesday afternoon when we realised that we shouldn’t give any more input because otherwise we might overwhelm the team. But it was important for us to find this point.
The week in the coaching team was also very good. They were intense and long days, we already know where the light switches are (laughs). The support from the staff is great and I also like how they dealt with the injuries because everyone stayed calm and solution-oriented and didn’t panic. We will bring a competitive team onto the pitch on Saturday.
The final talks are scheduled today, then I spoke to all the players. Except for the injured. I received a consistently positive impression from the discussions. It was important to me to get an idea of the team in these individual discussions. Team structure, team chemistry and belief in yourself are there. And then I tried to unite the team behind a little idea of how we would like to play football together. We were not able to shed light on every facet. The main topics were how we could find certain spaces in depth as quickly as possible offensively and how we would behave against the ball in the basic order.
I’ve already tried to distribute roles within the team. For a certain structure. It’s not just about leadership roles. Every player is important. That may be a platitude, but it is true. Each player received an assessment from me as to where I currently see him in this team. It’s also about players who should form an axis. It’s about role players who will have their moments and about players who should develop into a different role over the course of the season. I also tried to convey this in the individual discussions.
Of course, both players would most likely have been in the starting line-up. But as a coach you have to be able to deal with it when there are injuries. We have ideas on how we can deal with this. We have a high number of players, especially in central midfield. There are different options on the right track, but my first thought is: complete trust in Sergio Lopez.
Braunschweig has a lot of speed in the last line paired with new signing Polter, who brings great physicality. They are very good at switching offensively and also have a playful approach, but are not above playing the ball deep under pressure. They are also very strong at offensive set pieces. During the start-up behavior they change a little in height, so there is no completely clear picture. A very experienced team awaits us.
I’m really looking forward to Saturday. I’m looking forward to the atmosphere, the tingling sensation and the feeling of what we’re doing this for. I have never found this feeling anywhere else in my life. Standing in the tunnel, going out and then facing the demands that await you in a game like this. And I’m looking forward to seeing the fans in the stadium for the first time.
Basically, I’m happy when something is at stake. If you’re afraid of competition, then you’re in the wrong place in professional football. But we’re still very early in the season, so I don’t want to talk about a relegation duel. It is of course an important game for both teams, who want to correct their previous start a little. But I don’t want to hang the game too high for the course of the entire season. But it is an important indication of what we have worked on this week.
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:
Despite falling behind, Darmstadt secured their second consecutive home win! Darmstadt defeated Energie Cottbus 3-1 (1-1). The home side equalised after conceding an early goal in the four-minute period through Weißhaupt before halftime. Vukotic headed his team into the lead in the second half, before Lührs sealed the victory with the third goal. This home win brings Darmstadt's season total to seven points.
Homegame at Böllenfalltor (10/10, 1pm): Florian Kohfeldt has made two changes to his starting XI compared to the away match in Wolfsburg three weeks ago. Richter and Mikelbrencis come into the starting lineup for Sickinger (calf issues) and Lannert (illness).
On Saturday afternoon (October 10th, 1pm), SV 98 hosts Energie Cottbus at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor for Matchday 7. What do the two head coaches have to say ahead of kick-off? Who is officiating the match, and where can you follow the action live? As always, we have compiled all the key information regarding the game against Cottbus in our "Matchday Guide" feature.
