Season restarts in Franconia – Elversberg back against 1. FC Nürnberg

SV Elversberg are at the end of nearly four weeks of winter rest and preparations, and the Saarland team are now looking ahead to the second half of the  2. Bundesliga season. Manager Vincent Wagner’s team face an away challenge as the season restarts: on Saturday at 1 p.m., SVE are playing 1. FC Nürnberg at Max-Morlock-Stadion.

Looking back at recent weeks, Wagner explained that the winter break had been very welcome after an intense year. ‘This was a very intense year for some of us. It’s clear that the days off did us good. But that made us even more happy to see each other again in January.’ At the same time, this break did not create upheaval, but rather provided the foundations for focused preparations. The training camp in particular allowed the team to work on content and manage their workload in a targeted way. ‘We were able to train intensely and diligently at the training camp in particular and are already back in the groove – and we will need to be, because we are facing a tough opponent this weekend’, Wagner said.

We were able to train intensely and diligently at the training camp in particular and are already back in the groove – and we will need to be, because we are facing a tough opponent this weekend

SVE manager Vincent Wagner

Excitement levels for the season return are high. On a scale of one to ten, Wagner clearly opted for the higher end. ‘It is a definite ten. We have had numerous competition-free weeks and have been able to work on content without being under continuous pressure. The underlying idea is for our play to be built on enthusiasm, not on worry. And even when we get knocked down, we get back up again – as the first half of the season showed. We are really looking forward to getting back into the swing of things again.’

In sporting terms, SVE are heading into the second half of the season with the wind in their sails. 34 points in the first half of the season puts them in second place in the table – a snapshot that is being viewed realistically within the club but also provides a boost of self-confidence. Their trial run before the official match period began was brimming with goals: Elversberg beat FC Basel 6:5 in a test match played as 2×60 minutes, demonstrating that the same principles from the first half of the season remain in place.

However, the details of how the squad will look on Saturday remain up in the air. There are still question marks over some SVE positions due to illness, as Wagner has already noted. The manager was unwilling to specify who would be in or out before their final training session.

An opponent on the rise

1. FC Nürnberg had a difficult start to the season, but gained increasing stability as the autumn went on. The club celebrated their first win of the season in mid-September with a 2:1 against VfL Bochum and have been trending firmly upwards ever since. Nürnberg have now fought their way up to eighth place and are heading into the second half of the season with confidence.

Wagner views their upcoming opponents as being significantly more stable than they were during the early stages of the season. ‘Nürnberg are playing differently now compared with the start of the season’, the SVE manager noted. ‘The team have a high level of individual talent.’ An intense duel therefore awaits: ‘It will be a tight, evenly matched game, a battle of attrition that we will need to tackle head-on right from the outset, even if that will not be an easy task.’ Wagner also emphasised his own team’s development: ‘Our match against FC Basel showed that we were fundamentally able to continue our form from the first part of the season well. It will be a tough battle that will come down to the small details once again.’

It will be a tight, evenly matched game, a battle of attrition that we will need to tackle head-on right from the outset, even if that will not be an easy task.

SVE manager Vincent Wagner

Nürnberg also have huge respect for Elversberg. Head coach Miroslav Klose noted the away team’s variability with the ball. ‘Elversberg have lots of variants in terms of how they play with the ball. I think it shows that Elversberg have done exceptional work in recent years.’ The former world-class striker is expecting an open match: ‘This will be an encounter between two good teams and it will come down to the small details. They are difficult to defend against, but if our plan works, then it will be a very interesting match.’

In staffing terms, Nürnberg are comparatively relaxed as they head into the second half of the season. Winter preparations were positive from the club’s perspective, with no major losses. Only Adam Markhiyev still has some slight limitations. ‘Things are looking good as it currently stands. But he is of course a little behind on training’, Klose explained. There is another question mark over Adriano Grimaldi. ‘Adriano has only trained on his own so far. However, at the moment it looks good for him to join us at tomorrow’s final training session.’ This means that FCN have nearly all their players available, apart from Henri Koudossou and Eryk Grzywacz.

Klose’s team seems well equipped in attacking terms. ‘All of the strikers were able to attract attention during winter preparations. Many were irritated by the first half of the season and turned up on day one with a different attitude. They are playing in a more straightforward, linear way.’ The aim for their first home game is clear: ‘Our task is to keep the points here.’

Our task is to keep the points here.

FCN head coach Miroslav Klose

Klose also warned against viewing the departure of Elversberg’s top goal scorer from the first half of the season as a weakness. SVE have demonstrated several times in the past that they are able to compensate for changes very quickly. ‘They even changed managers over the summer, but things continued seamlessly’, Klose noted, particularly highlighting their transitional play: ‘It is very difficult to defend against.’ Elversberg had the best attacking ranks in the division during the first half of the season with 31 goals, and the team have prepared for this quality. ‘We have also come up with a strategy for the away team’s vertiginous attacks. If this plan works, then it will be a very interesting match that comes down to the small details.’

Regardless of table positions and statistics, the start of the second half of the season will be an acid test for both teams. Elversberg are seeking not to romanticise their strong first half of the season, but instead use it as a foundation to build on over the coming months. Or, as Wagner put it with a twinkle in his eye: ‘We are currently in second place. I have no idea how this accident happened.’ However, sports director Nils-Ole Book called for perspective: ‘The first half of the season significantly exceeded our expectations. This should be emphasised so that expectations for the future remain realistic.’

Saturday in Nuremberg therefore represents the team’s first opportunity to bring this attitude onto the pitch – in a match that should provide an early indication of where the team might be headed in the second half of the season.

We are currently in second place. I have no idea how this accident happened.

SVE manager Vincent Wagner