The upcoming opponent. The versatility of SV 98 and the competition within the team. And the players' focus. Florian Kohfeldt spoke about precisely these topics at the press conference on Friday (December 12th) ahead of Sunday's (December 14th/1:30pm) second division match against SC Preußen Münster. We've summarised the most important statements from the Darmstadt head coach for you.
Personnel update: Fraser Hornby will also miss the Münster match. Florian Kohfeldt said at Friday’s (December 12th) press conference that he might be available for the Paderborn game. All other players are currently available.
Preußen Münster is an exciting opponent. I have great respect for them – especially for their transformation. Last season, they played classic football – deep-lying defensce, long balls. They defined themselves through tackles and set pieces. Now they’ve become one of the top three possession-based teams in the 2. Bundesliga. They’re third in possession, which is a statement after 15 games. We’re one place behind them. Münster is trying very hard to define themselves through possession. They have a lot of players near the ball and try to create numerical advantages and draw the opponent out. This team wants to play football and they do so week after week – no matter who they’re playing against. The 2-2 draw against Hannover, in particular, should be warning enough for us. They’re capable of getting points against any opponent. We can look forward to two teams with an active approach on Sunday. I’m hoping for an attractive football match.
Fraser Hornby is an incredibly important player. Part of the team’s development and stability is that we can also find attacking solutions without Fraser. Isac Lidberg, of course, remains a key player. He has a very clear profile, holds the back line, and is always capable of being in the box. We rightly talk a lot about these two guys. But we mustn’t forget that we have a broad and versatile squad with a wide range of player types. We’ve developed a certain degree of flexibility over the past year and a half. The last few weeks and months have shown that we, as a team, are capable of developing solutions that match the strengths of each player. Naturally, we play a bit differently without Fraser. But that doesn’t mean we play any less attractive football. In the 2. Bundesliga, there are hardly any teams that represent attractive football like Darmstadt 98 – perhaps Hannover and Elversberg. We have the second-most scoring opportunities in the league. We’ve more than proven that we can play attractive and attacking football with varying lineups.
I don’t need to remind any of the players to stay focused – for several reasons. First, Münster speaks for itself. We all watch the 2. Bundesliga, and Preußen Münster has impressed everyone this year. They’re doing something special and have racked up a lot of points. Nineteen points at this stage is no small feat. Second, my team is focused, won’t get distracted, and wants to win. For me, it’s not about sharpening their focus, but about developing good solutions while maintaining that focus.
Matthias Bader has shown in recent weeks that he’s a force to be reckoned with in this competition for places. Sergio Lopez has earned his trust over the past year and a half. I could rave about Sergio Lopez as a footballer – especially his attacking play, but also his defensive development. Yes, he made a mistake against Karlsruhe. And of course, he was angry and emotional after being substituted against Karlsruhe. But he was the first to stand up for the team and apologise the next day. That shows what an outstanding person Sergio Lopez is.
Darmstadt 98 lost to Hannover 96 while playing with ten men and must continue to wait for their first win of this second division season. Read our analysis to find out what positives remain and why Darmstadt 98 had factored in setbacks on their chosen path.
Around the time of the home game against Hannover 96 on Sunday (August 30th), the Jonathan Heimes Square was officially inaugurated. Before kickoff, club president Markus Pfitzner and Martin Heimes, father of Jonathan Heimes, who died of cancer about ten years ago, gave speeches highlighting "Johnny's" importance and his commitment to people with cancer.
The Lilien Team Marathon is not just about athletic performance and the shared experience around the Böllenfalltor stadium – but also about making a difference together.
The SV Darmstadt 98 U21 team drew 2-2 (0-1) against SV Unter-Flockenbach. After a heated home game, the young Lilies had to settle for a frustrating, but ultimately deserved, draw. In this extremely balanced league, Patrick Kurt's team continues to grow week by week, gaining valuable experience.
An emotional match with many controversial moments unfolded on Sunday afternoon at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. Ultimately, Darmstadt suffered their first home defeat of the young season. We've compiled the post-match reactions for you.
Tried everything, but to no avail: SV 98 came up short in their home game against Hannover 96. The final score was 1-0 (0-0) to the visitors, whilst the Lilies had to play with ten men after Vukotic was sent off in the 20th minute.
Home game against Hannover! On matchday 3, Darmstadt 98 will host the ambitious Lower Saxons at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. Florian Kohfeldt has made three changes to his starting lineup compared to the victory in Jena. Hiroki Akiyama replaces the suspended Kai Klefisch, while Nicolas Verkooijen (making his first start) and Yosuke Furukawa start in place of Carlo Sickinger and Manolo Merx.
Weekend, Lilies fever! On Sunday (August 30th/1:30pm), the Lilies have their third matchday on the schedule. Hannover 96, the club from the Lower Saxon capital, will be visiting the Bölle. What do the two head coaches have to say before kickoff? Who will be refereeing the match? And where can you watch the game? As usual, we've compiled all the important information about the match against Hannover in our "Matchday Guide"
One day before their home game against Hannover 96, Darmstadt 98 have announced another new signing. William Mikelbrencis will now wear the SV 98 jersey. The 22-year-old Frenchman was under contract with Hamburger SV until June 30th.
In the press conference before the second home game of the still young season, our head coach spoke about, among other things, our team's attacking play and the past week. As usual, you can find the most important statements before the match against Hannover 96 (August 30th/1:30pm) here for you.
A second-division team on the Berlin Mount Olympus: Hannover 96 achieved something unique in 1992. On May 23, the Lower Saxony club defeated Borussia Mönchengladbach in the DFB Cup final, securing another major title in the club's history 38 years after their German championship win in 1954. Hannover became the first and, to this day, only "true" second-division team to win the DFB Cup, causing one of the biggest upsets in the competition's history.
