What's the competition like within the team? How does Florian Kohfeldt assess 1. FC Nürnberg ahead of their upcoming clash on Friday (August 8th at 6:30 p.m.)? The head coach answered these and other questions at the press conference on Thursday (August 7th). We've summarised the most important statements for you.
Personnel update: Paul Will is still unavailable. Sergio Lopez is also sidelined due to back problems.
There was a lot of fire and intensity in today’s final training session. The guys who didn’t play on the first matchday are pushing hard, and that’s how it should be. It’s very pleasing for me, and for the team as well, because it keeps the quality of training very high. We have a lot of competition, and yet I feel like the team was close. When training is over, all the players are on good terms with each other. But on the pitch, it’s all about the action, that’s how it should be.
A big club awaits us – with a great tradition and a passionate fan base. It’s always nice to play in Nürnberg because you immediately feel how deeply rooted the club is in the city and what it means to the people there.
Miroslav Klose and his team are pursuing a playing approach that was already evident last season. They generally don’t play in rigid positions, but rather create targeted interdependencies through possession. The game is characterised by many one-twos, positional changes, and rotations – embedded in a structure with clear anchor points.
Up front, Stepanov is a very powerful striker who serves as a target player. I remember Biron from the Belgian league – a strong dribbler with a lot of pace. In defence, Robin Knoche brings stability as an experienced central defender, and Justvan, one of the league’s most creative players, plays in the number 10 position.
Nürnberg has a strong core of second-division quality, centered around a host of talented young players. They play confidently and with clear attacking skills. When they’re out of possession, they’re also not afraid to defend in a deeper zone.
Talking always makes sense – the question is just when and at what point. I think team leadership is an important topic, and we have a clear line about when we communicate, who’s in the squad and who’s playing. The human element of our interactions always remains the same – regardless of the decision. Not only the head coach plays a role in this, but also the coaching staff, assistant coaches, physiotherapists, and the team manager. Decisions should always be clear and understandable – and communicated in the same way. I’m pleased with the current sense of competition and the strong team spirit within the team.
Nobody will ever believe me, but Vuko is the nicest person in the dressing room. He’s a very sociable, likeable person with great empathy. As a character, he’s truly remarkable. Football-wise, he has tremendous power in the air and is an uncompromising defender. He made tremendous progress with the ball last season. What I particularly appreciate about him is his desire to constantly develop and learn new things. Vuko is an absolute leader and a key player in our team.
I didn’t think our opening play in the game against Bochum was optimal. While we played very well and directly into the ten-yard box, our opening play, especially in the back line, could have been improved. We also need to be more vigilant in the rest of the defence after losing the ball. Our pressing, on the other hand, was very strong throughout the game, and we created the most big chances in the entire league on that matchday. The four goals we scored were absolutely deserved.
Our absolute focus is on tomorrow’s match against Nürnberg. On Saturday, we’ll give the players who haven’t played many minutes so far the chance to get some good match practice against a third-division team. It’s entirely possible that one or two of those in the squad against Nuremberg will also be there on Saturday – assuming they haven’t played much. Basically, though, the goal is to give specific minutes to those who haven’t played much due to injury or availability. It’s especially important right now that all the players get enough playing time, because I’m absolutely certain we’ll need every single player over the course of the season.
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:
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.
