About the current situation of the Lilies. About training impressions as well as positivity and conviction. About the upcoming opponent and the upcoming game. Florian Kohfeldt spoke about exactly these and other topics at the press conference on Friday afternoon (February 21st). Before SV Darmstadt 98's home game against FC Schalke 04 (23.02/1:30pm), the head coach was available to speak to the journalists present. We have summarised the most important statements for you.
Personnel update: Fabian Holland, Matthias Bader, Paul Will, Christoph Zimmermann, Fabian Nürnberger, Jean-Paul Boetius and Kai Klefisch as well as Philipp Förster are out. Fraser Hornby, Sergio Lopez and Oscar Vilhelmsson returned to team training this week.
Schalke won against Karlsruhe last week and has a full squad available. Under Kees van Wonderen they have gained basic stability in the last few weeks and months. Overall, they have a team with incredible offensive quality. They have players in their ranks who can decide games. The first leg is currently not an issue in our minds. Both teams were in completely different phases back then. This was a game that comes around maybe once every 20 years. It was a special evening in which many factors came together.
Goals. Because everything in football boils down to that. We need mental stability. We still need our very proper defensive and offensive structure. In the last few weeks we have allowed the opponent far fewer chances to score. Now we have to finalise it defensively and offensively. We should not allow these few opportunities to happen. We have to score the goals ourselves from the currently not so many opportunities of our own – even if they are still there.
We are optimistic. Because we were able to welcome one or the other back this week. Because we bring a lot of factors to the pitch that suggest we break away. We also brought a very good mentality to the pitch in Braunschweig and really tried everything again when we were outnumbered. Overall, we are showing a very high level of willingness and there is a positive mood in the team that we want to turn it around as quickly as possible. You also notice that the boys‘ interaction on the pitch is quickly returning. Overall we are positive for the game on Sunday. We haven’t won too many games, haven’t scored points in too many games and we want to end this phase as quickly as possible. And there is little better opportunity than to do so on Sunday in such a traditional duel.
We generally never do the same thing in training every week. Situations change every weekend in football. Therefore, we train appropriately for the situation. We think from day to day and week to week about what the team needs and what is best for them. My impression of the team is that we are very stable. The boys talk to each other and not about each other. You are absolutely willing to push yourself to the limit and do whatever it takes to be successful. It is also positive that this is rewarded. The fans don’t question that the team is giving it their all. There is no sign that we are falling apart. Instead, we continue to have great solidarity and great willingness. Therefore, my address to the team remains positive and encouraging. Still, I don’t touch anyone with kid gloves. If something doesn’t fit, it will be addressed clearly. But I don’t see anyone in the dressing room who doubts. Rather, there is still self-confidence and clarity. We have to maintain the positivity and belief.
It’s a good signal that Paul managed to extend early with a cornerstone of our team. Schuh is crucial for us with his personality, his experience and, above all, his performance. The extension also shows that the Lilies have a certain radiance. Schuh is an important building block for the next few years. The contract extension is therefore very good news for the present and the future of SV 98, which I am very happy about.
SV Darmstadt 98 invites all its members to come to the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor on November 1st, 2026, starting at 11:30am. Together, we aim to once again create the largest team photo in our club’s history—with the professional players in the front and the entire Lilies family behind them.
On Sunday (Oct 18th), SV Darmstadt 98 will visit Karlsruher SC. The side from Baden differs from the Lilies in several key respects. Furthermore, the match will see SV 98 cross paths with a former player once again. Find out here about other connections between the two clubs, as well as some particularly interesting statistics ahead of the encounter.
On Tuesday evening (October 13th), the SilberLilien took part in SV Darmstadt 98’s Stolperstein tour for the first time. Along the approximately six-kilometre route, the participants made several stops to learn more about the fates of Jewish club members who were persecuted and driven out during the Holocaust.
From new grassroots sports offerings and a look back at the club's history to birthdays and the latest updates from the media briefing—there is plenty to report from SV Darmstadt 98 again this week. In "Lilien Across the Board," we round up the news, insights, and stories from life at the club.
Tickets for the home match against 1. FC Heidenheim on November 22nd are available for purchase now.
SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team proved their mettle at home against KSV Hessen Kassel II in the Hessenliga on Sunday (Oct. 11th). After a convincing 90-minute performance, the Young Lilies secured another three points, finishing with a decisive 4–0 victory that lifts them to sixth place in the standings.
The Lilies overturned an early deficit to celebrate a 3–1 home victory against Energie Cottbus—a win that boosts confidence and confirms the progress being made. Read our analysis to find out why there is still work to be done and what positives SV 98 takes away from the match.
This season, too, Lilien fans will be doubly rewarded for every home goal scored by SV Darmstadt 98. In addition to the joy and excitement of the goals, the team's supporters will receive 98 litres of Krombacher Pils for every home goal scored by Darmstadt at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor.
After the international break, Darmstadt 98 returned to the Bölle with a home win! Against Energie Cottbus, SV Darmstadt 98 put on a spirited performance in front of their home crowd and rewarded themselves with three points after an intense match. We've compiled the post-match reactions for you here:
Despite falling behind, Darmstadt secured their second consecutive home win! Darmstadt defeated Energie Cottbus 3-1 (1-1). The home side equalised after conceding an early goal in the four-minute period through Weißhaupt before halftime. Vukotic headed his team into the lead in the second half, before Lührs sealed the victory with the third goal. This home win brings Darmstadt's season total to seven points.
Homegame at Böllenfalltor (10/10, 1pm): Florian Kohfeldt has made two changes to his starting XI compared to the away match in Wolfsburg three weeks ago. Richter and Mikelbrencis come into the starting lineup for Sickinger (calf issues) and Lannert (illness).
On Saturday afternoon (October 10th, 1pm), SV 98 hosts Energie Cottbus at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor for Matchday 7. What do the two head coaches have to say ahead of kick-off? Who is officiating the match, and where can you follow the action live? As always, we have compiled all the key information regarding the game against Cottbus in our "Matchday Guide" feature.