“We know the table situation. Anything else would be a lie,” reported Lilien attacker Phillip Tietz on Tuesday and revealed: “We can take something positive from it.” What the striker of the South Hesse is of course right. Darmstadt no longer have to look left and right in the hot promotion final – if they win themselves. The Lilies have been in second place since the last matchday and have a clearly better goal difference than their rival Werder Bremen. The rise is within reach.
How keen is Düsseldorf?
The first step is to be taken in Düsseldorf on Friday (6:30 p.m.). Nothing is at stake for Fortuna anymore, but that doesn’t make the Rhinelanders any less dangerous. Since coach Daniel Thioune took over at Düsseldorf, Fortuna no longer knows the word “defeat”. That should change on Friday. At least when it comes to the lilies.
But the opponent is never underestimated. “It’s nonsense if you think they wouldn’t give their all. They also want to win the last home game,” warned Tietz. “Düsseldorf are a brutally strong team. That’s a board, of course. But I have no worries because we’re completely focused.” The southern Hesse have already proven that against Aue and St. Pauli. The lilies are hot on the rise, there’s no question about that.
The “you have to fight” spirit is back
In addition to reflecting on your own strength, looking at your own game, the Lilien also gain strength from a special story: that of the deceased Lilien fan Jonathan “Johnny” Heimes. Johnny played a major role in the sensational march from the 3rd division to the Bundesliga from 2014 to 2015, handing out his “You have to fight” bracelets to the successful Darmstadt team.
Only a few of today’s team knew the story of the cancer patient who died in 2016 at the age of just 26. Players like Tobias Kempe and Fabian Holland, who had met Johnny personally, their colleagues admitted, however – and ensured that the “You have to fight” spirit celebrated a comeback in Darmstadt.
“Johnny is a role model”
“Johnny is a role model,” reported attacker Tietz, who has only been playing in Darmstadt since this season and didn’t know the story beforehand. “I put the bracelet on once and have never taken it off since.” Even years later, Johnny’s bracelet campaign provides that little extra portion of motivation for the lilies. “I find the story extremely remarkable,” said Tietz on Tuesday. He himself, revealed the attacker, draws personal strength from it.
He shouldn’t be the only one on the team. Already against Aue you could see a blue or white tape around the wrist of almost all Lilien players. Below: Johnny’s bracelet. And the message is as valid today as it was then. “He fought for years and was a great example that you can achieve a lot if you fight,” said Tietz. “And we want to give everything for him and promise as a team that we will fight.”
Source: HR