“Need the mixture of energy, straightforwardness and patience”

We need a mixture of energy, straightforwardness and patience to prepare for our moments. When we have the ball, we need a mix of aggressive attack and alertness. We must always keep in mind that KSC can make a lot out of very little.

As with every evening game, we will go back to the day hotel and then travel together to the stadium in the team bus. This beloved bus ride is a crucial part of the trip because the journey through the city is very special. Before the game, we will also try to build a bond with the spectators. There have already been many cool moments on Friday evenings at the Bölle. I hope that we can experience a moment like that again. We want to work on it together with the spectators.

The Bölle and the fans can be a factor on Friday evening. I am pleased that the fans have found a close bond with us. On Friday evening – especially when there are difficult moments – it would be outstanding if the fans took on their role again and said: „OK, it’s difficult right now. But now we are here, now we are helping the team.“ We are aware of this. The fans can be an important part of the success that we are aiming for on Friday evening.

Karlsruher SC has a very mature and grown-up team. They have many players who have been playing in the league for a long time. They also have a real difference-maker in their ranks in Marvin Wanitzek. They changed the system from 4-4-2 to 3-5-2 and have won twice recently. With the two victories they have gained some peace of mind and can even look up again. In terms of football they have a very determined team, especially in the final third. When they have the ball they are not above waiting in the block and enduring situations. They deliberately look for their pressing moments.

We played a really good away game in Magdeburg for 55 minutes. We had a lot of chances to score, only conceded one chance in that phase and defended everything, which is not a given against 1. FC Magdeburg. The crucial point was the 1-1. That led to an emotional situation that was not good. In the last half hour we conceded a lot, which Magdeburg punished. But together with the Schalke game, we were extremely stable for a total of 145-150 minutes. We ourselves were dangerous time and time again. The team should take that with them. However, we have to remain clear-headed and stick together, especially after moments like conceding goals. We shouldn’t have a half hour like that in Magdeburg again.

The emotional reaction after the 1-1 draw has various and understandable reasons. At the beginning of the season, it was all about how a team achieves emotional stability on the pitch. A lot of that is about leaders. We have chosen players to fulfil this role of emotional leadership – we are talking about Clemens Riedel, Kai Klefisch, Philipp Förster, Fraser Hornby, Fabian Nürnberger. Of these players, who are supposed to hold the team together emotionally and form an axis, only one was on the pitch in Magdeburg.