MSV Duisburg has the best chance of staying in the league. In the current phase, they are already planning for the new season. This was confirmed by coach Torsten Ziegner.

In the coming weeks, MSV Duisburg would like to finally clinch its place in the 3rd division. After 29 games, the lead over the first relegation place is a comfortable eight points, but in this league the tide can turn quickly – in one direction or the other.

The past few match days and a few surprise victories by relegation candidates have impressively demonstrated this. Nevertheless, personnel planning for the 2023/24 season is of course in full swing. Nine contracts end in the summer.

MSV coach Torsten Ziegner spoke about this topic at the press conference before the home match against league leaders SV Elversberg.

“We are in the middle of planning for the new season, but in our minds we are already very far along. Logically, we are now holding intensive talks with players who we can imagine being part of our squad next year. We wanted to wait for the general meeting first, which is now over. The other point is that the licensing procedure has been submitted, but we haven’t heard back from the DFB yet. Then we will know exactly what budget we can plan with. These are all things that concern Ralf Heskamp in particular. “

Our idea is to reduce the size of our squad – with nine contracts expiring – but to improve the quality.

Torsten Ziegner.

The plan is clearly formulated. For Duisburg, the aim is not only to change the squad for the coming season, but to strengthen it – also with new external arrivals. Ziegner emphasised: “The extent to which you strengthen the squad is always in the eye of the beholder. Our idea is to reduce the size of our squad – with nine contracts expiring – but to improve the quality. In the first half of the season, we had 26 field players and three goalkeepers. That’s why we want to reduce the squad. But we need four or five new players.”