JANSSEN: "HAVE TO IMPOSE OURSELVES ON THE GAME"
Wednesday, 25. October 2017, 22:56 Uhr
Head coach Olaf Janßen has just four days to go over the 1-1 draw against Sandhausen with his team and get them ready for the next challenge on Friday evening, when Erzgebirge Aue are the visitors to the Millerntor (kick-off: 1830 CET). At today's pre-match press conference Janßen spoke about our forthcoming opponents and the short time in which to prepare.
"We had a high-intensity game on Monday in which we expended a lot of effort," said Janßen, looking back at the 1-1 draw at Sandhausen. "But having rescued a point late on we came away feeling very positive." In Philipp Heerwagen, Philipp Ziereis, Richard Neudecker, Cenk Sahin, Aziz Bouhaddouz, Marc Hornschuh, Yiyoung Park, Ryo Miyaichi and Maurice Litka, the same nine players will miss out against Aue as did against Sandhausen. Yet for all the injury problems there is good news, too. "Litka had an infection in his ankle but the swelling has gone down," said Janßen. "I'm confident about Bernd Nehrig as well. He suffered a blow to the calf in midfield but is already feeling better. We aren't complaining, though, just getting on with playing football."
Aue sit two points behind the Boys in Brown in eighth place and Janßen knows all about their strengths: "Aue have had a very good season so far. They operate from a back three and don't just sit back, they also press the opposition early. We're up against a side who will push us all the way. We have to impose ourselves on the game."
The Saxony outfit are now coached by Hannes Drews, 35, who has adopted a similar approach to his predecessor. "Aue still play the type of football they played last season under Domenico Tedesco," said Janßen. "They benefit from having good coverage across the pitch that enables them to change their formation quickly. Fast vertical play is characteristic for them. They accept they might lose the ball but because they cover the spaces well they're on top of their opponents straightway."
Janßen has not had much time in which to prepare, however, and so the coaching team have deliberately focused on light training sessions. "Between Monday and Friday we have what amounts to a two-match week, so recovery is the only way to go," said Janßen. "We still have to go over the tactical analysis. The lads are ready and waiting to hear what the game plan is. A home win would do us a world of good. It's nice to win, and winning at home is the best. We've worked very hard in the last two games and brought a lot of good things to the pitch but despite that we dropped four points. We want to go some way to getting them back on Friday."
Photos: Witters
