In an interview with sv98.de, President Rüdiger Fritsch comments on the current overall situation, the upcoming crucial weeks and the search for a sporting director.
sv98.de: Rüdiger, 26 match days have been played in the 1st Bundesliga so far. It is the expected difficult season. How do you classify the overall situation?
Rüdiger Fritsch: With a huge effort, we all achieved promotion to the Bundesliga together. Our SV Darmstadt 98 were in a battle with a lot of very big clubs but we achieved this just in time for our 125th birthday. This is outstanding and the result of the solidarity and cooperation of so many people in and around the club. Anyone who has followed our journey together over the last few years will see what we have achieved together, regardless of individual game results. We have now established ourselves in professional football, are financially stable at our level and are pleased about the positive external perception.
And as far as the “difficult season” is concerned, that has unfortunately proven to be more true than we perhaps admitted at the beginning. However, when viewed in light, nothing has happened so far that was not previously imaginable. And importantly: we always have to keep our heads up!
sv98.de: You mentioned that there are still eight games to play after the international break, and we are currently six points behind the relegation place. How do you look forward to the rest of the season?
Fritsch: First of all, we have to self-critically state that this season, as in previous years, we have not yet managed to make the most of our limited economic possibilities. But now the crucial weeks are coming up with games against the teams from the lower table region. Let’s combine all our strengths together once again – with a good mix of full concentration and „Druff Kapell“ attitude. Nobody should write us off too soon.
sv98.de: “Joining forces” also means including all fan groups, right?
Fritsch: That’s exactly how it is. It’s not an easy season for all fans of the Lilies, losing too often is just no fun. But what happened in the stadium on Saturday against Bayern was the Bölle as it lives and breathes and as we all love it so, so much. The processing of the incidents from the Augsburg game definitely does not take place in every club with this openness and clarity. A lot went wrong on the day of the game against Augsburg, but I am grateful for the process of coming to terms with it and the way of self-reflection. The logical and good insight is that “We Lilies” are actually “All of us”.
sv98.de: What is the status of filling the position of sporting director?
Fritsch: We are proceeding with this new appointment in a structured manner and with a clear concept. The position is definitely important, but we won’t allow ourselves to be pushed into making quick decisions. We are not looking for the first, but rather the best for the lilies in our opinion and it is by no means the case that we are currently unable to act. The scouting department is still there, the “engine room” is functioning. This was also shown by the past winter transfer period with three new additions. We need a specialist who can use his expertise and good network to guide our squad composition and, as a result, raise the squad to an even better level. And that while recognising our framework conditions. To put it bluntly: this expert doesn’t grow on the trees of the Darmstadt city forest. However, we are confident that we will be able to report enforcement in a timely manner.
Torsten Lieberknecht has to change his starting lineup to four positions compared to the away win at 1. FC Köln. In addition to Aaron Seydel, Clemens Riedel and Klaus Gjasula, Matthias Bader is also out for the duel with 1. FC Heidenheim with a broken nose. Luca Pfeiffer, Christoph Zimmermann, Jannik Müller and Emir Karic move into the starting line-up to replace the injured quartet. Asaf Arania from the U19 is in the Lilies' competitive squad for the first time.
After the away win in Köln now comes our home game with Heidenheim. On Sunday evening (April 28th/7:30pm) the SVD finally wants to win again in front of their own crowd. It is clear that this will not be an easy task against 1. FC Heidenheim, but Torsten Lieberknecht's team still wants to give the lily fans their second win in a row. Before the Bölle gets down to business, we will provide you with all the information about the duel between the Lilies and the guests from Heidenheim.
Next Sunday (April 28th/7:30pm) SV Darmstadt 98 will face fellow promoted team 1. FC Heidenheim. After Torsten Lieberknecht's team finally celebrated another victory in the Rhineland last week, they should also be able to do it at home this week. With a win of their own and some help, the Heidenheimers could stay in the league three match days before the end. But before the Lilies meet Frank Schmidt and “his” Heidenheimers, you will find all the important facts about the game here. What gives hope for the second win in a row? What are the strengths of the people of Baden-Württemberg? And which lily became a professional in Heidenheim? You can find out in our top facts about the game.
About the success in Köln, the upcoming duel with 1. FC Heidenheim (April 28th/7:30pm) and the staff: Torsten Lieberknecht answered questions about these and other topics at the press conference on Friday (April 26th). We have put together the most important statements from the head coach for you.
On Sunday (April 28th/7:30pm) SV Darmstadt 98 welcomes 1. FC Heidenheim and asks you to pay attention to the following information.
Continuity in the Lilies' Youth Performance Centre: Björn Müller has extended his contract as sporting director of the youth performance center (NLZ) for the long term. The new contract is now valid until June 30, 2027. Müller has been working in this position since June 2022.
In February, SV 98 lodged an objection against a ruling by the DFB sports court due to the use of pyrotechnic material over 43,000 euros (away game in Stuttgart on September 22, 2023) for fundamental reasons. This objection was rejected at a hearing on April 5th. In addition, in another case, SV 98 was fined 2,000 euros for unauthorised entry onto the pitch by several people at the home game against Leipzig (October 21, 2023). The SV 98 had already communicated to the oral hearing that the implementation of a possible appeal procedure would be dependent on the written reasons for the judgment.
Together with our main and jersey partner HAIX, a special Lilien shoe was created with which you will cut a good figure both in the stadium and in everyday life. The shoe is now available exclusively at www.haix.de.
With over 13,000 season tickets, SV Darmstadt 98 enjoys a very high proportion of fans in the stadium who want to be there at the Bölle home game after home game to actively support the team. In order to be able to continue offering day tickets, the number of season tickets has been capped for many seasons. And yet we are pleased that new season ticket holders can be welcomed every summer. For the coming season, a change and waiting list is now available on the club's own homepage.
Off to Signal Iduna Park! On the 34th matchday, SV Darmstadt 98 visits Borussia Dortmund. The away game at BVB will kick off on May 18th at 3:30pm. This is how you can be there: From Friday (April 26th/12pm) we will start selling free tickets exclusively in the ticket shop at the Merck Stadium. You can find all further information here.
Sunday evening. Floodlight game. Everything is set for a thrilling duel between the two Bundesliga newcomers in the Merck Stadium at the Böllenfalltor. With 1. FC Heidenheim, the Lilies face an opponent who has one constant above all: head coach Frank Schmidt. The 50-year-old led his team into solid midfield in the first Bundesliga season and beat the record champions from Munich three weeks ago. At the end of the 31st matchday (April 28th/7:30pm), the SVD still wants to keep the points in southern Hesse. We'll take a closer look at FCH before the home game.
