MSV Duisburg has taken a “self-critical” approach to its loss at Hoffenheim. Things are expected to improve significantly against Aachen, though there’s more bad news regarding the roster.
That’s how fast things change in soccer. That’s how fast things change in the 3. Liga. MSV Duisburg, the newly promoted team that got off to a blistering start, celebrated six straight wins at the beginning of the season.
In the end, the 1-3 loss at TSV 1860 Munich snapped their streak of ten consecutive unbeaten games. And although the Meiderich-based team has lost only two matches after 15 games, the mood is now slowly shifting in the opposite direction.
After all, the reality is that they’ve won only one of their last seven matches—that was their most recent home game against Waldhof Mannheim (2–1). And in the 1–4 loss last matchday against TSG Hoffenheim’s U23 team, the Duisburg side put in their worst performance of the season so far. Afterward, coach Dietmar Hirsch remarked that his team had confused the sport with “basketball without physicality.”
Ahead of Saturday’s home game (2 p.m.) against Alemannia Aachen, Hirsch first provided an update on the team’s roster situation. There was both good and bad news: Joshua Bitter is fit after having to be substituted shortly before the end of the Hoffenheim match. However, Florian Krüger is out—the forward has come down with tonsillitis.
Referring to the higher number of absences, Hirsch explained: “There are things that can be explained. We’re not complaining, but you also have to recognize that we’re once again missing a high-quality offensive player. We’ve always been able to step it up recently, and we can still do that now, but we’re losing some pace up front—something we can’t make up for when the opponent gets tired. Nevertheless, we still have quality across the board, even if not everything can be replaced 100 percent.”
That’s why the Duisburg players remain confident; they’ve taken a “very self-critical approach” to the 1–4 loss at Hoffenheim. “Defeats are part of the sport. We’ve put that behind us; now we’re heading full steam ahead toward Aachen,” Hirsch emphasizes.
They’re facing an opponent that has so far earned more points on the road than at their home stadium, the Tivoli (seven games, four wins, one draw, two losses). Hirsch knows what his team is up against. “It’s striking that Aachen picks up more points on the road than at home. This is a team that transitions very quickly and is very good at counter-pressing. You have to be quick on your feet and hold your ground against them.”