VfL Osnabrück opens the new third division season against MSV Duisburg tonight. VfL captain Marc Heider has a clear goal for the game: “We want to shake the bridge with a win.”
The 36-year-old, who is in his eighth professional year with Lower Saxony, is confident about today’s start of the league (7 p.m., in the NDR Livecenter). “We’ve come a long way for four weeks of preparation,” said the offensive player after the last friendly against FC Groningen (1-2) on “VfL TV”. Except for the result, the team “made a very good game”.
“We do it the way we know it: You screw up the dress rehearsal and then start the season with a win.”
— VfL captain Marc Heider
The composition of the squad gives the captain confidence: “We now have two people in almost every position. That increases the competition. Nobody can be sure – that makes us want more.” In addition, the team is practicing another system (4-4-2 instead of just 4-3-3 as before): “We have become more variable as a result, which will help us enormously in the season.”
Trapp and Karademir with positive corona tests
The well-staffed squad is already challenged against Duisburg, in Maurice Trapp and Yigit Karademir two defenders are out because they tested positive for the corona virus. Timo Beermann is back in training after his ankle injury, but not an option for the game on Friday. Likewise newcomer Benas Satkus, who had started the preparation late.
Coach Scherning: “Good atmosphere in the team”
It’s time for a home win against MSV – VfL last managed this 32 years ago (the goal for the 1-0 win on May 10, 1990 was scored by a certain Claus-Dieter Wollitz). Since then there have been five draws and four defeats in nine games.
“We want to set a clear exclamation mark at the start.”
— VfL coach Daniel Scherning
VfL coach Daniel Scherning was satisfied with the preparations and was optimistic: “I see a good atmosphere in the team,” said the 39-year-old in the “bridge whisper” podcast of the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung”. The squad is currently better positioned than at the same time last season.
Veteran Tesche before his third division debut
Nine departures face nine newcomers. The most prominent name among them is certainly Robert Tesche, who the Osnabrück piloted free of charge from VfL Bochum to the Bremen bridge. The 35-year-old brings a lot of routine to VfL: The central midfielder played in the European Cup with HSV, he spent three years in England and most recently rose to the Bundesliga with Bochum.
Today, however, Tesche is entering new territory and will get a taste of third division air for the first time in his career. “I’m happy to have decided in favor of Osnabrück. As a club with a long tradition, VfL is a great location with a great stadium and a strong fan base.”
Stadium name “Bremer Bridge” remains
And VfL Osnabrück will continue to play its games in the stadium with the name “Bremer Brücke”. A newly founded cooperative has secured the naming rights for the next three years, as the association announced on Wednesday. The comrades pay a license fee annually during the period for using the name.
Possible lineups:
VfL Osnabrueck: Kühn – Kleinhansl, Gyamfi, Chato, Traoré – Tesche – Wulff, Koehler – Simakala – Oduah, Heider
MSV Duisburg: Müller – Bitter, Mai, Fleckstein, Kölle – Bakalorz, Frey – Ajani, Pusch, Stoppelkamp – Bouhaddouz
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NDR 2 Sports | 07/22/2022 | 11:03 p.m
