For Holstein Kiel, after the already sealed descent on the last matchday of the Bundesliga, there is still a highlight of the season. The KSV will compete in front of over 80,000 spectators at Borussia Dortmund on Saturday. After the duel with the Champions League candidate, cleaning up on the fjord begins.
Marcel Rapp’s statement on the 1-2 defeat against SC Freiburg, which was synonymous with the early descent, was short and short. And Kiel’s coach ended his explanations last Saturday with the sentence: “We are now a bit sad – and then it goes on again from Wednesday.”
On Saturday (3:30 p.m., in the Livecenter at NDR.de) it will be shown on Saturday (3:30 p.m., at NDR.de), whether the three days off to shake the frustration over the missed relegation.
“Now it is important to continue there. Everyone together, all for Holstein. And then there will be a new attempt in the second division next year.”
– coach Marcel Rapp
Great support also in Dortmund
At the latest when looking into the width of the one-time football temple with 81,365 spectators in Strobelallee, the eyes of the Kiel players should actually shine again. Especially since many Holstein fans will also contribute to the great atmosphere in the largest German stadium.
“A few years ago, 8,000 people were in a home game, now 8,000 fans go to Dortmund,” said Rapp. The great support is proof that something “happened” at Holstein, the coach said: “I am just proud of what was created here.”
Holtby mission open in his last KSV game
It will certainly be “a special game that will be remembered in retrospect,” said the Holstein coach on Thursday. “80,000 spectators – we’ll knock everything out again. The motto is not only enjoyed. We go in there to get three points.”
Rapp left Rapp open whether the outgoing captain Lewis Holtby will be used for the Schleswig-Holsteiner in his last game: “We put up the players with whom we think we have the greatest chance of winning the game with them. But that does not mean that Lewis Holtby does not play from the start.” Holtby and the association had announced a few weeks ago that the contract with the midfielder was not extended.
Rebbe: “Can build a good future here”
The Palatinate Rapp has been responsible for the Schleswig-Holsteiner since 2021. The surprising Bundesliga promotion last year was the masterpiece of the 46-year-old. The fact that he could not keep the class with the KSV did not harm his reputation in the industry. In view of the comparatively small budget, the remaining league would have been a moderate sensation. Rapp is aware of this. And those responsible for the association are also aware of this, who have extended the coach’s contract with full conviction by 2028.
Instead of turning everything on the left, as is common for relegations – the calm is kept on the Waterkant. “Here is a good basis, people stand behind the club. We can work solidly and build a good future. There are also different topics for this: the trainer remains and the core of the team remains. We can build on that really well and that makes me look positively into the future,” said Holstein’s sports manager Olaf Rebbe to NDR.
Joint three departures fixed, machino and Co.
The 47-year-old demonstrated his good view of talents at his previous station, the 1st FC Nürnberg. He generated millions of income from transfers for the Franks before moving out of office at the “Club” in mid-February this year and was introduced to Kiel around two months later. Since then, Rebbe has had to plan two tracks. What he has already found in his short time at KSV: “We scored a lot of goals, but we also got too many. Let’s see that we are doing the goal difference properly.”
His main focus for new obligations is likely to be on defensive players. It probably also has to be because Timo Becker switches to Schalke 04 and other defenders such as David Zec and Marko Ivezic are rumored to be surrounded by the competition. Actors such as top scorer Shuto Machino and his attack colleagues Phil Harres and Alexander Bernhardsson may not be able to be held for Holstein.
The upheaval – so far only Holtby and the long -term injured Colin Kleine -Kiefel have been determined as departures – could therefore be greater than previously accepted and wanted by those responsible for the KSV. Especially since the Schleswig-Holsteiner would have to make players with good offers for economic reasons. Due to the descent, the TV funds alone decrease from over 30 million to around 10 million euros.
Kieler Weg should continue despite relegation
The “storks” will probably not present the very big stars as access in a few weeks. But the Kielers don’t want to. And also does not want to, as he said again: “You have to stay true to your way. And I think we did it. We have not lost ourselves in something. We have a clear way, a clear idea of football and a clear imagination which players should play for Holstein Kiel,” said the coach.
The 46-year-old has impressively demonstrated his qualities as a “better maker” in recent years. Rapp formed from unknown actors such as Harres Bundesliga player and integrated them into a team that impressed with clearly structured football and homogeneous appearance.
Rapp: “In the end the quality was missing”
The low-budget novice had no chance like the 1: 6 against FC Bayern Munich. Often only nuances for victory were missing. “In the end, the quality was not enough. We have to analyze it. It was more in it. I will also analyze what I could have done better,” said Rapp self -critically.
Words that are very rare from the mouth of a professional trainer. And words that testify to the fact that the Kiel location is worked with great objectivity and self -reflection. Unquestioned two arguments that speak for a return from Holstein to the Bundesliga. Maybe not already in the coming year. But almost certainly at some point if the KSV will remain true to its path in the future.
Possible lists:
Borussia Dortmund: Kobel – Süle, Anton, Bensebaini – Rerson, Sabitzer, F. Nmecha, Svensson – Brandt, Adeyemi – Guirassy
Holstein Kiel: Dähne – Becker, Johansson, Zec – Rosenboom, Remberg, Ivezic, Tolkin – Skrzybski – Bernhardsson, Machino
This topic in the program:
Schleswig-Holstein Magazin | 12.05.2025 | 7:30 p.m.
