Darmstadt 98 still has promotion to the Bundesliga in mind. After a hard fight and the 1-1 draw against HSV, the team is expanding its series and coming out of the top game without any new injuries.
Darmstadt (dpa / lhe) - Fabian Holland considers any dream of promotion to the Bundesliga to be premature. "Of course, that's still a long way to go. Even if you see what games are still waiting for us," emphasized the 32-year-old team captain of Darmstadt 98 after the 1-1 (0-1) in the top game of the 2nd soccer Bundesliga against second-placed Hamburger SV. "I think spitting big sounds has never been our thing and that's why we're looking at Heidenheim." Next Saturday, the unbeaten table leader for 21 league games has to play against the pursuers from Baden-Württemberg.
Against HSV, the "lilies" once again showed their fighting spirit, even against big opponents. For a long time the team ran behind after an early goal in the 4th minute by Ransford Königsdörffer. But Darmstadt kept fighting and pushed for an equaliser. "We kept our foot on the gas pedal. The team showed sheer willpower," said coach Torsten Lieberknecht.
In the 81st minute, his team could finally celebrate in front of 16,800 fans in the sold-out Böllenfalltor stadium. New winter signing Filip Stojilkovic scored to make it 1-1 and thus kept the Hessians four-points ahead of the second in the Hanseatic League. "We've always been patient and believed in ourselves. The mentality in this team is really good, and that often pays off in the end," said the goalscorer, who also received a lot of praise from the coach. "Filip Stojilkovic's goal was outstanding, it was a feast for the eyes," praised the 49-year-old.
After the draw, coaches and players made no secret of the fact that after the late goal and a fighting game there was also hope for more. "The timing of the goal means we're happy with the point, although a win would have been possible," said Lieberknecht. But winning a point brings self-confidence. "You saw again that we don't have to hide from anyone. Hamburg had announced that they wanted to dominate us, but there was little sign of that," summed up Holland. "We'll see what that point is worth at the end of the season."
Until then, at least the list of injuries should be shorter. "In the game, no one takes it easy, everyone hits it, but of course we don't need another failure now," said Holland. At least against HSV there were no further failures. After the injuries to Jannik Müller (thigh muscle fiber tear) and Tobias Kempe (partial tear of the inner ligament) on the last matchday, there are hardly any options left anyway. "Two of us were also late for the departure, but then I don't have the opportunity to say: I'll leave you out," said Lieberknecht after the game in the direction of HSV coach Tim Walter, who deleted his top performer Bakery Jatta from the starting eleven because he was late for the team meeting.
"We're always happy when the physios come in in the morning and we get the colorful piece of paper and because there isn't so much red on it and sometimes green and yellow," said Lieberknecht, who is expecting Matthias Bader and Klaus Gjasula to come soon return to the pitch. "Knowing that everyone in the squad who comes in can give it more than 90 minutes makes us strong even in this phase with a lot of injuries," said Holland. This strength must also be maintained in the coming games against good opponents.
