VfL Osnabrück is currently struggling and has no solution to its losing streak.

Since the start of the 2023/24 season, almost nothing has gone right for VfL Osnabrück. Since then, there have been 49 league games, with only eight wins.

As a result, after being relegated to the 3rd division, the club is now facing relegation to the regional league. Sunday’s 2-4 defeat at FC Ingolstadt was a new low, with the game decided early on as VfL were already 0-4 down after 56 minutes.

VfL assistant coach Tim Danneberg was understandably frustrated. He replaced coach Pit Reimers, who was ill, and said to MagentaSport after the defeat: “We’re talking about defense, but also about our own behavior when in possession of the ball. In many moments, that was far too sloppy. We always talk about the basics that have to be done on the pitch, about simple, clear things, including in our build-up play. Those are moments when we were far too unfocused in our heads. These weren’t moments where we can say that the opponent clearly outplayed us. These were our own mistakes in building up play, unnecessary turnovers, a first touch that wasn’t right. These are little things that weren’t right in many areas until we were 4-1 down. After that, you saw what the team is capable of playing despite being a man down.”

After two goals in a minute, there was brief hope for a miracle, but the sending-off of veteran Timo Beermann dashed all hopes. Danneberg: “We sit at half-time, talk about a lot of things, and then we constantly invite the opponent to score goals. Those are things I don’t agree with at all. It’s far too easy.”

I don’t know if it goes deeper than that. I have no idea how you can explain such an attitude towards a game.

Dave Gnaase

Osnabrück player Dave Gnaase was also stunned because once again, hardly anything went right. He emphasized on “MagentaSport”: “I’m a bit lost for words. It’s not just the mistakes that lead to the goals. We’re playing such timid soccer. It’s crazy. We’ve been talking every day for months about what we need to work on. But week after week, we can’t get it right on the pitch. I don’t know if it goes deeper than that. I have no idea how to explain such an attitude towards a game. We’ve hardly won a game in 1.5 years. That also affects your self-confidence. It’s brutally difficult to get out of that. We get knocked down day after day, week after week.”