MSV Duisburg got completely run over by TSG Hoffenheim’s U23 team. Dietmar Hirsch spoke plainly after the 1-4 loss.
What on earth was that? For the past 18 months, ever since Dietmar Hirsch became coach of the Zebras, MSV Duisburg has stood for fight, heart, and passion. On Friday, the Meiderich-based team failed to deliver for the first time in 45 minutes.
In the 1-4 loss to TSG Hoffenheim’s reserve team, the 3. Liga leaders—who could still lose their top spot this matchday—were thoroughly outclassed. The Duisburg players can count themselves lucky that they went into halftime trailing only 0-4.
Hirsch saw it similarly after the game. The 53-year-old, who suffered his heaviest defeat as an MSV coach, spoke plainly.
He ranted to “Magenta Sport”: “That was nothing! We got the sport wrong. We played a bit like basketball, and that’s not physical enough. Our tackle rate was abysmal. The data confirms that too. Everything went wrong.”
The fans supported us brilliantly again, and for the first time in 18 months, they booed us—and rightly so. We need to be honest now. Against Alemannia Aachen, we have to give something back to the fans. But I’m convinced the team will do just that
Dietmar Hirsch
But Hirsch didn’t want to paint everything in a negative light—and that refers to the second 45 minutes: “That was the first poor performance of the season. I stand by it: If your tackle success rate is that abysmal, you can’t win against a U23 team like that. We at least showed a reaction in the second half. We were more physical, scored a goal, and didn’t concede as much. That’s not something you can take for granted when you get beaten so badly in the first half.”
It was only their second loss of the season—MSV Duisburg suffered their first against TSV 1860 Munich. Next weekend—Saturday, November 29 at 2 p.m.—the Zebras will look to make amends.
“We’ll have a packed house next week against Aachen, and that’s when we want to show our true colors. The fans supported us great again, and for the first time in 18 months, they booed us—and rightly so. We need to be honest with ourselves now. Against Alemannia Aachen, we have to give something back to the fans. But I’m convinced the team will do just that,” said Hirsch.