Bitter realization for Darmstadt
The bottom team in the Bundesliga gives up prematurely in the relegation battle
April 7, 2024, 11:33 a.m
With just two wins from 28 games, SV Darmstadt 98 is at the bottom of the Bundesliga. After the slap in the direct relegation battle duel with FSV Mainz 05, those responsible at the Lilies are no longer under any illusions.
After what felt like a knockout in the relegation battle of the Bundesliga, the visibly disappointed Torsten Lieberknecht no longer wanted to make any more demands for perseverance. “We have to be extremely realistic,” said the coach of the defeated bottom of the table SV Darmstadt 98 after the promoted team’s bitter 0:4 (0:1) in the basement duel at FSV Mainz 05. A rescue from relegation “would be a thing after this game “More than a great miracle,” said Lieberknecht honestly.
The Hessians, who have not won in 21 games, are already nine points behind the relegation place 16, where Mainz still stands, six game days before the end of the season. Given the negative series and the weak performance on Saturday, Lieberknecht didn’t want to raise hopes. “It’s not easy to keep building a team when you have the feeling that you can’t turn things around,” admitted the 50-year-old.
But he won’t let the team down, “but will try to prepare them properly for the last first division games, that’s how you see it. For me as a coach, it’s now about keeping the boys together as a team and finishing the upcoming tasks cleanly “So that we can say goodbye to the league sensibly,” said Lieberknecht.
Darmstadt squad too weak for the Bundesliga
In the neighboring duel in Mainz, the Hessians once again revealed too many deficits in front of 33,000 spectators, which run like a common thread through the entire season. The defense is too vulnerable, the offense too harmless. The bottom line is that the newcomer’s squad is simply not suitable for the Bundesliga. Like Lieberknecht, President Rüdiger Fritsch no longer believes in remaining in the class. “We can all read the table,” said the lily boss. For captain Fabian Holland, the next few weeks are primarily about “showing heart. We owe that to the club and the fans.”
This did not work in Mainz. “We didn’t manage to get 100 percent on the pitch. It’s an extremely bitter day,” said Holland. Andreas Hanche-Olsen (32nd minute), Brajan Gruda (60th) and Jae-sung Lee with a brace (80th/84th) sealed the deserved defeat for the guests.
“We were all aware of what was at stake today. But we weren’t good enough,” said defender Christoph Klarer and added: “We are extremely sorry – for the fans and the entire club. It hurts very, very much But we will finish the season with pride and honor.”
This also demanded goalkeeper Marcel Schuhen, who continued to fight despite the defeat. “If we were to stand up now and say we’ve been relegated, that would be absolutely unworthy of the club. We have a responsibility to the people who work with us week in and week out. That’s why I would find that extremely disrespectful to everyone else,” Shoes said.