interview
The Foxes got off to a perfect start to the season, but this was marred by the injury to national player Wiede. In the interview, Managing Director Hanning talks about the loss and a possible replacement.
rbb|24: Mr. Hanning, before we look at the Füchse’s successful start to the season, let’s first talk about the shock in the last game: national player Fabian Wiede seriously injured his right ankle against Balingen. Do you already know exactly how long he will be missing?
Bob Hanning: This cannot be said conclusively yet. The specialists’ recommendation is clearly in the direction of surgery. In the next few days we will clarify when and where we will do this. Only then will we be able to say anything more concrete.
rbb|24: How endangered is his participation at the home European Championships, which begins in January?
Hanning: The home European Championship is definitely in serious danger. As of today, I don’t have the imagination to believe that he can play.
rbb|24: How much will the Foxes miss him in terms of sport?
Hanning: After Paul Drux’s injury, it is the second blow to the team’s neck. You can’t replace Fabian Wiede, we know that too. And yet we still have to deal with the circumstances at the end of the day. But for the team it is a bitter loss that cannot be replaced.
rbb|24: Even if he is irreplaceable, at least a replacement is needed to close the gap in the squad. Is there already a solution for this?
Hanning: Yes. The basic situation is relatively simple. We have already tried to find a replacement for Paul Drux. I’m a big fan of only bringing in players who will really help us progress. And they’re not on the market right now.
But now the Foxes’ big advantage comes into play. Through the cooperation with Potsdam and our second team, we have a reservoir of great players and will now raise U21 world champion Max Beneke. He will help us and I trust him completely. I’m not worried about him fitting in with this team. Since he comes from the system, he can best fill the gap.
rbb|24: Aside from the injuries, you can probably speak of a perfect start to the season: The Füchse got six wins from the first six games. What is behind this impressive early form?
Hanning: I believe that we have learned from last year’s mistakes and are now making good use of the depth of the squad. The players agree that they want to succeed together and there is an even greater community within the team.
rbb|24: The fact that the squad didn’t change much over the summer and the team stayed together certainly contributed to the formation of this community. Is this strategy now working?
Hanning: Absolutely, yes. We are stable together and the issues are fixed. And that’s coming into play now.
rbb|24: Are you worried that the injuries to Paul Drux and top performer Fabian Wiede and the integration of the young Max Beneke could shake the team’s mentality?
Hanning: No way. The players agree with each other and Max Beneke has already played games for the Foxes. It is already integrated into the overall system. So that’s a really big plus compared to bringing in foreign players.
rbb|24: There’s still a long season ahead of you, but after a start like this, the question of your title ambitions quickly arises again. Is it ready this season?
Hanning: This question doesn’t arise for me at all. We want to have a good season and do things better than last year. After the two serious injuries, suddenly increasing the pressure is out of the question.
rbb|24: Last year the Foxes came third behind Kiel and Magdeburg. Magdeburg has already been impressively beaten this season. How do you assess the competition at the top this season?
Hanning: First of all, you can see that Melsungen seems to be making something of her inexhaustible possibilities this time and is not at the top of the table for nothing. That means the top has become wider by one club. Of course there are a lot of top teams with Flensburg, Kiel, Magdeburg, Melsungen, the Rhein-Neckar-Löwen and us. And of the six, only one can become champion – which doesn’t mean that everyone else has missed their goals.
rbb|24: Thank you for the interview.
The interview was conducted by Lukas Witte, rbb Sport.
Broadcast: rbb24, September 25, 2023, 6 p.m
