Press conference on Thursday (October 17th) with Florian Kohfeldt. The head coach of SV Darmstadt 98 was available to the journalists present in the PK room of the Merck Stadium at the Böllenfalltor before the Lilies' home game against 1. FC Köln (18.10/18.30pm). It was about anticipation, the upcoming opponent and your own approach as well as the work during the international break. We have summarised the most important statements for you.
Personnel update: Fabian Holland, Paul Will and Matthias Bader are known to be out. Christoph Zimmermann is also missing. Otherwise all players are ready to play.
I see the game as a huge opportunity – with the special atmosphere and the connection with our fans. And we are really keen to take the three points and get out of the game with a push. Of course we haven’t won a home game for a year. And of course we definitely want to win here – especially at home. There’s actually no better setting for it: Friday evening, floodlights and then against the top favourite in the league. But we have to do it together on Friday. Even during the warm-up we have to feel that everyone in the stadium is keen to get the home win. If we can get this vibe going, I’m really looking forward to Friday evening.
I’m really looking forward to the game. I’m already looking forward to when the blue light is on in the players‘ tunnel, when you look out and it finally starts. I longed for moments like these. And they were also a reason why I signed in Darmstadt.
1. FC Köln is the most difficult task you can get in this league. Köln certainly has the team with the highest individual quality in the 2nd league. You can see this in their games and – even though I’m not a fan of them – in their market values, where they are far above all other teams. They have incredible offensive quality in their squad. The FC wants to switch quickly by winning the ball. They play very quickly in depth and use their speed and individual quality on offense.
It will be extremely important for us to find a good balance. We need a good mix of high alertness on defense, but on the other hand we also have to focus on our own offense and not let Köln get going. Because that’s another quality of theirs: They are the most intense team in the league when it comes to sprints and intensive runs. Köln is definitely a tough place for us.
I was very happy about the international break. It was an advantage for the coaching staff and team to work on their physicality and content. We put a lot of focus on defending – with two main focuses: 1.) How do we get into pressing? What are the moments when we want to win balls? We have to develop the feeling as a team for good situations and get the balls. The team has to recognise these situations, we have been working on that. 2.) Defending in your own box. That was also a big topic for us. But it’s all a process. We feel like we took a good step during the international break. For us, it’s also about developing playing fitness that suits our style of play. That doesn’t mean that the team wasn’t fit before. The team’s willingness to work in the athletic area is very high. She would like the intensity of training to remain too high. The team has become more robust in the last few weeks. But this is also a process that is not yet complete.
The second consecutive away game, and the last of the season, is upon us. Once again on a Sunday (May 10th, 1:30pm), Darmstadt will be playing away – this time against SC Preußen Münster. Everything you need to know for your final away trip of the season to the LVM-Preußenstadion, about three and a half hours away, can be found here in the usual fan information section.
There's a lot going on at the Bölle. The 98th Darmstadt baby of 2026, along with their family, visited the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor, and they weren't the only ones. Where else the Bölle gang has ended up, and many more news items about the club, can be found here in our "Lilies Across the Board" section, as every Wednesday.
SV Darmstadt 98 informed all season ticket holders about the season ticket procedure for the 2026/27 season on Wednesday (May 6th) and would also like to share this letter on the club's own website.
Autographs, photos, and personal encounters with the Lilies: You'll have the opportunity to do so on Thursday (May 7th) from 5pm to 6pm. As part of an autograph session presented by Merck, Patric Pfeiffer, Kai Klefisch, and Fynn Lakenmacher will be at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. You'll also receive a ten percent discount in the fan shop during this time.
Darmstadt's 2-1 defeat at Karlsruher SC also ended any remaining theoretical hopes the South Hessian club had of finishing the season in the top three. The loss at the Wildpark stadium served somewhat as a symbol for the past few weeks, during which SV 98 had only managed one point from five matches since the international break in March. Following the game on Sunday afternoon, the Darmstadt players addressed the assembled media representatives with mixed feelings.
Three points! SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team secured a victory in the Lotto Hessenliga on Saturday afternoon (May 2nd). In their match against Hünfelder SV, the young Lilies overcame an early deficit to clinch a convincing 3-1 win. This result puts the U21 team currently outside the relegation zone. "Our trend is clearly upward," said a delighted U21 coach Sebastian Schmitt.
The successful collaboration between the Hessian Disabled and Rehabilitation Sports Association (HBRS) and SV Darmstadt 98 will continue long-term: Both partners have extended their existing agreement to promote inclusive sports indefinitely. This sends a clear signal for the sustainable development of inclusion and disability sports in Hesse.
A bitter end in Karlsruhe: After 90 entertaining minutes in which both teams sought salvation in attack, Darmstadt suffered a narrow defeat. The final score was 2-1 after a late goal from the home side, following Isac Lidberg's earlier equaliser. After the match, the players were particularly frustrated with the missed opportunities in the first half.
The away form continues to be poor: SV 98 suffered a 2-1 (0-0) defeat against Karlsruher SC. Lidberg scored the equaliser for the team from southern Hesse in the 70th minute.
Darmstadt 98 visit Karlsruher SC on matchday 32 (May 3rd, 1:30 PM). Florian Kohfeldt has made five changes to his starting lineup. Killian Corredor replaces the injured Fraser Hornby, Aleksandar Vukotic comes in for the suspended Patric Pfeiffer, and Fabian Holland starts in place of Matej Maglica, who is sidelined with an ankle injury. Merveille Papela and Niklas Schmidt also join the team, replacing Sergio Lopez and Yosuke Furukawa. In addition to Hornby, Pfeiffer, and Maglica, Darmstadt will also be without the injured Matthias Bader, Fabian Nürnberger, and Luca Marseiler.
Finally, the weekend is here, finally Sunday! On Sunday afternoon (May 3rd, 1:30pm), SV Darmstadt 98 will face Karlsruher SC away. What do the two coaches have to say about the match, who will be refereeing, and where can you watch it if you're not at the stadium? All the important information about the Lilies' 32nd matchday is compiled for you here in "Matchday Guide".
Continuity in sporting management: SV Darmstadt 98 has extended Paul Fernie's contract early and for the long term. As part of the contract extension, the current sporting director will move into the club's management board and will now serve as managing director of sport.