The prospect of promotion is becoming increasingly realistic for Darmstadt 98 – but the team is reluctant to discuss it, a stance rooted in experiences over a year ago.
Everyone is talking about it. The fans, the media, even the opponents, such as Kaiserslautern’s coach Torsten Lieberknecht or Braunschweig’s coach Heiner Backhaus. Promotion – for nearly all observers, it is within reach for second-division side Darmstadt 98. Yet, the team and their coach Florian Kohfeldt have refrained from publicly mentioning the possible leap into the Bundesliga for weeks, and months. But how does a whole team avoid indulging in hopeful thoughts about the Bundesliga, even with a second place in the table and twelve unbeaten games?
Fortuna has no fit goalkeeper
Fortuna Düsseldorf has no healthy goalkeeper available two days before the duel at Darmstadt 98. Florian Kastenmeier and substitute Marcel Lotka have contracted a flu. Florian Schock, the third goalkeeper, is also not fit after a tendon injury. However, coach Markus Anfang said: “I expect one of the two, Florian or Marcel, to be available again by Saturday.”
Sport Psychologist as Additional Support
Focus, focus, focus. That’s the answer from Kohfeldt. Not to receive lost in any future scenarios, even among the Darmstadt players, but to always act in the here and now, to dream in the here and now. Last season, the team agreed on clear values and ways of acting, according to Kohfeldt. One of these: “We always focus on what’s coming. The team lives this completely.” In addition to the coaching team, sports officials and the professionals, Andreas Marlovits also plays a central role.
Andreas Marlovits, 59, Austrian, is a renowned sports psychologist. Kohfeldt has known him for a long time, having worked with the coach in Bremen and Wolfsburg. In Darmstadt, Marlovits is not with the team every day, but regularly, leads group sessions and individual talks, and repeatedly focuses on the group dynamics, which he and Kohfeldt consider so important.
“He picks up the mood,” explained offensive player Marco Richter some time ago on Liga-zwei.de: “He’s a cool guy, the whole thing is more on a friendly basis. That helps the whole group.”
Kohfeldt has “Absolute Luxury Problems”
Not only due to the fact that of Marlovits, but also, Darmstadt is characterized this season by a pronounced team spirit, with even players like Aleksandar Vukotic – at least publicly – not complaining about being demoted from a starting player to a substitute. “Creating this culture took some time,” says Kohfeldt, because: “Some players have to set their ego aside for a short time.”
This represents especially important when most of the key players are available – as is now the case. The recently sidelined key players Isac Lidberg and Fraser Hornby have found their way back onto the pitch. Both offensive players will start against Düsseldorf, against a “team with high individual quality” (Kohfeldt).
How the Lilies Could Start Against Düsseldorf:
This is how the Lilies could start against Düsseldorf.
