New coach Mitch Kniat was not only able to get to know his players during the training camp. Arminia Bielefeld’s completely renewed squad has yet to find its feet.

New coach, new sporting director, new squad. In just under three weeks, Arminia Bielefeld will embark on their mission to win promotion back to the 3rd Division. 26 players have left the East Westphalians, 17 have joined. Numbers that can still change.

On Sunday, coach Mitch Kniat’s team returned from the training camp. They spent a week in Kiens (Italy) preparing for the upcoming season, which will start with two highlights: the clash against Dynamo Dresden (5 August, 4.15 p.m.) and the first round of the DFB Cup against VfL Bochum (12 August, 6 p.m.).

In an interview with the “Neue Westfälische”, Kniat expressed his satisfaction with the last few days. “The pitches and everything around them have been fine. It’s also positive that we don’t have any injured players.” Not only does the coach still have to get to know the players, the team will also have to find its way among itself.

After all, with Fabian Klos and Christopher Schepp, only two players from the relegation squad have remained at the Bielefeld Alm. The new sporting director Michael Mutzel has had a busy start to his tenure. And he is not yet at the end of his plans.

If one or two people can get more playing practice elsewhere, we are of course open to that.

Mitch Kniat

There may still be movement on both the entry and exit sides. Kniat did not want to reveal more details. Only this much: “We will do what is best for the players. If one or two people can get more playing practice elsewhere, we are of course open to that.”

With Klos, a club legend and the captain has gone the way of the third division. Whether he will remain so under the new coach will only be decided shortly before the first championship match, he said. After two days off, Bielefeld will resume training on Wednesday (19 July).