Florian Krüger has yet to break his duck. Coach Dietmar Hirsch talks about the new signing’s difficult situation and his importance to the team.
Florian Krüger has an impressive resume. Excellent statistics in the FC Schalke 04 youth team, prolific goalscoring in the 2nd Bundesliga, but also goals in the German and Dutch top flights adorn his CV.
Only at MSV has he failed to score in six games. Coach Dietmar Hirsch is putting the brakes on and urging patience. “He brings us things—just like all other strikers—working against the ball, creating space, which the neutral fan doesn’t see.” Strikers are not defined solely by goals, says Hirsch. “We think highly of him,” emphasized the 53-year-old at the press conference ahead of the home game against Hansa Rostock (October 3, 7 p.m., RS live ticker).
“You also have to take into account that he had a mixed preseason and was even relegated to the second team in Belgium at one point. He didn’t play any test games and joined us a little later.”
He had a tough time at Belgian first division club Beerschot VA, then fled to Wedau on deadline day. That’s why he needs to get back into the rhythm of the game first. “The playing time did him good. We are very happy with him,“ Hirsch emphasizes. ”But he’s not at 100% yet, and he knows that himself. But we’re on the right track to get him there.”
Hirsch emphasizes several times that a striker should not be judged solely on the number of goals he scores. “You have to talk to the guys a lot. A striker often defines himself more selfishly—and understandably in terms of goals—I understand that,” he explains. “I evaluate strikers a little differently than the public does. But I would be happy if he broke his duck with a goal. That’s what the strikers want too.”
The solution to growing impatience: communication. Hirsch: “I try to take the pressure off the guys—I try to take away the ‘I have to score, I have to score’ mentality. I think that works quite well. The only way to do that is through conversation. You have to trust the players, and that’s what we do.”