From promotion to relegation candidate – “It’s a catastrophe”.

It is simply head-shaking what is happening at FC Ingolstadt right now. The FCI desperately wanted to return to the 2nd division and now have to fear for staying in the relegation zone.

After another setback in the 2:3 against Dynamo Dresden, the alarm bells are ringing at FC Ingolstadt. The Bavarians are now only eight points ahead of the relegation zone.

Ingolstadt started the season as top favourites to return to the 2nd Bundesliga, but after nine defeats from eleven games, they are among the candidates for relegation. For while Oldenburg, Dortmund II, Halle and Co. are starting to score in the bottom of the table, FCI is in free fall.

Even the officials and players did not mince their words after the defeat against Dresden and clearly addressed the dangerous situation.

“It’s a disaster. You just have to say that. It feels quite bad. The fact that the performances in the last games weren’t bad doesn’t mean shit in the end. We have to get three points again and we can’t always stand up and say that we played a good game. There’s no end to my frustration,” said FCI striker Pascal Testroet on “MagentaSport”.

The pressure is on all of us. But that doesn’t mean the coach is under pressure. We are convinced that he is doing a good job.

Dietmar Beiersdorfer

Actually, FCI wanted to attack the top again after the change of coach from Rüdiger Rehm to Guerino Capretti. A clear case of: think again! Capretti is already down for the count after only four points from eight games as FCI coach.

However, managing director Dietmar Beiersdorfer (still) supports the former Verl and Dresden coach in an interview with “Magenta Sport” and emphasised: “The pressure is great for all of us. But that doesn’t mean that the coach is under pressure. We are convinced that he is doing a good job. At the moment, he finds himself in a situation that is more than unfavourable. We are trying to fix it together.”

On Sunday (26 March, 2pm) Ingolstadt head to Zwickau. FSV must win to get back to the non-relegation places and FCI must win to avoid slipping in at the bottom. Excitement is pre-programmed.