Ingolstadt/Bayreuth (dpa/lby) - After being relegated to the 3rd soccer league, FC Ingolstadt wants to win the fans over again with the start against SpVgg Bayreuth. "We know that after this year we will still be viewed critically," admitted coach Rüdiger Rehm before the home game on Saturday (2:00 p.m.). "We have to deliver, we owe it."
Rehm expects a euphoric climber as the opening opponent. "Bayreuth has had a strong season, has absolutely deserved promotion and wants to prove itself in the new league," said the Ingolstadt coach and warned of Bayreuth's "impact".
Only goalkeeper Marius Funk and midfielder David Kopacz were missing from his squad in training. Otherwise Rehm has no personal worries.
Bayreuth have lost their promotion coach Timo Rost to league rivals FC Erzgebirge Aue. Thomas Kleine, most recently on the coaching staff of Fortuna Düsseldorf, is the new coach. "Most of the promoted players are very euphoric. They take the good season they had with them," warned Ingolstadt's defender Marcel Costly.
