The “madness of Wedau” continues. Goal scorer Tobias Fleckstein couldn’t stop raving about it. Dietmar Hirsch gave another personnel update.
MSV Duisburg’s spectacular return to the third division also amazed Michael Preetz. “You couldn’t have predicted this before the season. We’re delighted that confidence is growing. That will help us and is already an extraordinary story,” praised managing director Michael Preetz on “Magenta Sport” after the Zebras’ 3-0 away win in Schweinfurt in freezing conditions.
MSV is the sole record holder in the third division, with six opening wins since Tuesday evening being a first in League Three. What’s more, apart from losing the Lower Rhine Cup final against RWE, the Meiderich team has been unbeaten for 228 days, winning eleven league games in a row and remaining undefeated in 19 consecutive games across all leagues.
Added to this is their strong offense, which has already scored 17 goals. It is the best MSV offense at this early stage in 35 years, when Michael Tönnies, Ewald Lienen, and Michael Tarnat shot the traditional club back into the Bundesliga. The numbers of a promoted team? Even after the sixth match day, Dietmar Hirsch did not want to go that far, despite another mature performance and defiant injury misfortune. The coach stuck to his opinion. “I’m always happy when we win. This team simply makes me proud and fills everything on the pitch with life. I pay more attention to that than to any records. That’s a nice bonus.”
This was also evident at the Sachs Stadium: Rasim Bulic celebrated exuberantly after the 1-0 goal. Can Coskun tapped the club crest after the 3-0 goal, the left-back jumped straight into the arms of a fan in front of the curve, and Tobias Fleckstein scored his first third division goal for MSV under the floodlights after two and a half years. “Keep going, MSV,” chanted the traveling fans as they celebrated their team’s lead in the table. Schlicke’s debut in Schweinfurt, same squad on Sunday “It’s always great to play in front of them. We are just grateful for their support. It’s a lot of fun because everyone on the pitch gives their all for each other. That’s the only reason it’s possible. We are simply a hungry bunch. Celebrating victories is somehow like an addiction because it’s so satisfying. I can only take my hat off to them. We’re a real team. That’s why we’re up there,” enthused Fleckstein. In a relaxed atmosphere in the team circle, Hirsch announced an additional day off, which, according to the center back, will be made up after the English week. After the long bus journey back from Bavaria, Duisburg must quickly turn their attention to the upcoming away game in Havelse on Sunday.
Hirsch said that it is highly likely that the same 20-man squad will be available at the weekend as during the week. “As I said, we don’t want to take any risks during the midweek fixtures and we can still bring on quality substitutes.”
Significantly, 19-year-old Ben Schlicke made his first third division appearance for MSV in a tricky phase in the second half. According to Hirsch, the new signing was “completely integrated by the team. Then you just play soccer with confidence, no matter how old you are or how many appearances you’ve made.”