Head coach Adi Hütter and vice-president Rainer Bonhof spoke to the media ahead of Saturday’s match against Arminia Bielefield. We have summed up all the key quotes from today’s press conference below.
Head coach Adi Hütter on…
…potential changes within the club following the departure of Max Eberl: Of course Max had a key role here. But, that doesn’t change the fact that the club are very well equipped. Within the team, I feel like we have developed a ‘now more than ever’ kind of mentality. We haven’t just returned to our daily routine this week, but have also cleared up some internal processes. My impression is that the team have handled it well.
…the personnel: Tobias Sippel suffered a bruised rib in training and only returned today. We will have to see if he’s okay for the weekend. Ramy Bensebaini had a calf problem at the start of the week after returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, but he’s fit again now and could definitely play this weekend.
…an update on Lars Stindl: He’s working hard in rehab and wants to come back as soon as possible in order to help the team as their captain. But, I think we will have to be patient with him.
…Marvin Friedrich’s role in the back three: I think Marvin Friedrich did well as part of a back three against Union, together with Matthias Ginter and Nico Elvedi. We didn’t allow many chances, which I liked. That’s why there’s no reason to make many changes.
…the team’s performances in recent weeks: When things don’t go your way, there’s the feeling in football that you didn’t give it your all. But, a team always plays hard. This is something essential, and normal in football. I think we showed a good reaction against Union, following the cup game in Hannover. During the international break, we had the time to train and process what had happened. We now want to try to get back on track against Bielefeld.
…upcoming opponents Arminia Bielefeld: They have done well in recent weeks. Their wins in Frankfurt and Leipzig proved the quality they have as a team. They are also currently unbeaten in their last five games. They run hard, are always on the move and try to get the ball up front as quickly as possible. That’s what defines Bielefeld. Despite everything, we need to focus on ourselves and play our game.
… Alassane Plea and Marcus Thuram: We need every single player in this phase. There are examples such as Florian Neuhaus, who has also come out of a tough period. I like to see how hard he’s fighting. We need players to give everything for the team. That’s also what I expect from Alassane and Marcus. I can’t fault them for how they train. But, at the end of the day, it’s about getting the lads back to where they can help us get out of this situation.
Vice-president Rainer Bonhof on…
…Max Eberl’s successor: There is no news in terms of finding a successor for Max Eberl. We’re taking the necessary time and won’t entertain any speculation.
…the return of the fans: I think we all agree that the decision to allow up to 10,000 spectators back into stadiums is a welcome one, but there is plenty of place for more. I think every single fan can help the team.
