“We have to provide the answer on the pitch”

For all of us, the match in Karlsruhe was one that defied explanation at the time. That includes the team itself, especially since we had managed to find a certain level of stability in the preceding weeks. In fact, following the game against Cottbus and the international break, we had a very good week of training leading up to the Karlsruhe match. Yet, in the game itself, we lacked everything required to win a second-division fixture: the necessary seriousness in defence and in possession, a professional approach, and the required willingness to put in the running. Falling behind 1-0 early on—in the manner that it happened—followed by the second goal, left the team in something of a state of shock. Even so, something like this should not happen to us. No one is trying to downplay our performance in Karlsruhe; it was a catastrophic display from start to finish. At the same time, however, we remain confident—particularly because we have shown ourselves to be significantly more stable at home this season.

Looking at the season as a whole, we had a very difficult start, and recently we’ve gone through a period with quite a few ups and downs. We simply have to find a way to become more consistent. At the moment, we lack individual reliability, which makes it incredibly difficult to have any predictability on the pitch. We need to fix that. On the other hand, it’s a fact that we’ve won our last two home games and have come out on top in two of our last four matches. The positive thing is that we’re playing again as early as tomorrow. It’s come around quickly, which is actually for the best—the lads need to provide an answer out on the pitch. They need to do that tomorrow, but also on a consistent basis moving forward.

There’s no question that the pressure is on now. But if you don’t love that kind of pressure, then you have no business being here. We don’t need any sympathy; we just need to step it up.

I told the players who started in Karlsruhe—as early as halftime—that they had another 45 minutes to prove themselves. I therefore believe we will see a few changes this Friday evening. After all, it has to be acknowledged that certain actions cannot go entirely without consequences. That is perfectly normal in professional sports and has nothing to do with my personal relationship with the players. We continue to share a very close bond between the squad and the coaching staff. There is the personal side of things, and then there is the sporting side. On the sporting side, however, there have recently been recurring behaviors that reach a point where you have to say: perhaps it’s time for someone else to get a chance.

We are playing against a very good team. They have found their footing, bring an incredible amount of pace to the final third, and have two very fast forwards. In my view, Smith is one of the best playmakers in the league. Furthermore, they are very difficult to press when they are building from the back, and they are highly versatile overall. Beyond all the emotion, we also need to prepare—in terms of substance—for what we will face tomorrow. We have done that, and we will continue to do so.

It’s a balancing act: after a match like the one in Karlsruhe, you don’t want to give the impression that you’re trying to sugarcoat things. At the same time, you have to stick to the facts. We’ve won our last two home games—the most recent one thoroughly deserved. I don’t think there have been many truly poor home performances over the past two years. While that’s no guarantee for tomorrow, it does give us confidence. We want to win this match. After all, when we talk about the ups and downs we’ve experienced lately, it implies that there have been good spells, too—and I’m hoping for another good spell tomorrow.