All about the next opponent: Interview with Kaiserslautern expert Florian Reis

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·29 de octubre de 2024

All about the next opponent: Interview with Kaiserslautern expert Florian Reis

One week after their game against the Italian record champions, VfB hosts second-division team Kaiserslautern this evening for the second round of the cup at the Neckarstadion. We spoke with FCK expert and journalist Florian Reis about the current situation at Kaiserslautern.

With the Red Stripe: Hi Florian, thanks for taking the time to answer our questions. For the first time in almost exactly seven years, VfB faces FCK again in a competitive match. Back then, we also won 3–1 against the second-division team at Betzenberg in the second round of the cup. In the meantime, Lautern spent four years in the third division. Has the club re-established itself in the second division in its third year?

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Florian: Hi Lennart, FCK hasn’t quite re-established itself yet. Last year, they fought against relegation for a long time and went through three coaches, which set them back. This season, the goal is to secure a stable spot in the midtable. Given last year’s challenges, I think that’s a realistic expectation.

What are your thoughts on their chances of returning to the Bundesliga? Or are they still too financially and sportingly unstable for that?

Well, you mentioned the last cup game between the two teams. Back then, the sporting and financial situations were much more precarious. Attendance of 35,000 was the exception rather than the rule, whereas now it’s the norm. In Kaiserslautern, people shouldn’t be talking about a Bundesliga return just yet. Other clubs are still much better positioned. But, for financial reasons alone, that must be the long-term goal.

After many winless games, the team recently defeated top teams like Paderborn and Düsseldorf. Has the team managed to turn things around?

It’s hard to say. The team had a strong start, taking seven points from the first three games. Afterward, they struggled, and the results led to the first mini-crisis of the season. So far, it seems they perform better against teams that want to play offensively. They should have won at home against HSV four weeks ago too.

This summer, Markus Anfang took over as head coach. He didn’t have the best reputation after his forged vaccination certificate scandal. How do you view his appointment?

I think he’s handled the situation well at Lautern. Of course, it’s impossible to entirely separate the professional from the personal in this case, but he seems to understand the seriousness of what he did. Anfang impressed me in the way he handled the tragic death of FCK equipment manager Peter Miethe, who died in a cycling accident during their training camp this summer. Anfang served as our media point of contact afterward, and I think he managed it very well.

How does he have the team play, and what are the current strengths and weaknesses of the Betzenberg team?

At Lautern, they’re trying to improve their style of play, which takes time. But is time something you get in football? Another question is whether they have the right players for this approach. We’ll see more in the coming weeks as the team recovers from significant early-season injuries. If players like Daisuke Yokota stay fit, things could improve. Anyone who saw their game in Düsseldorf would probably agree. As for strengths and weaknesses: they’re always capable of scoring up front, but defensively, they still struggle like last season. I have real concerns about them handling the quality of players like Deniz Undav or Ermedin Demirovic.

Ragnar Ache has scored six times in nine games. What makes him stand out, and who else should we watch out for?

Ragnar Ache is a powerhouse. I’ve rarely seen anything like it. He doesn’t just wait for passes upfront; he also plays selflessly for the team. I already mentioned Daisuke Yokota. If he plays on Tuesday, he could give VfB trouble, as I expect FCK to adopt a compact defensive approach.

Three former VfB players are in the FCK squad: Florian Kleinhansl, Philipp Klement, and Jean Zimmer. What roles do they play in the team?

Florian Kleinhansl initially had trouble making the squad, but he’s been in the starting lineup for the last two games as a left wingback, replacing Erik Wekesser and performing solidly. Jean Zimmer lost the captaincy before the season and initially didn’t play, but injuries have changed that. He’s still a fan favorite. Philipp Klement is a more complicated case. He struggled under all three coaches last season. Markus Anfang has given him a new chance, but he’s currently injured.

What are FCK’s chances in Stuttgart on this cup night?

To be honest, not very high. This is probably the toughest draw they could have received. Under normal circumstances, their cup run ends on Tuesday. But, as they say, the cup has its own rules.

Finally, your prediction for the starting eleven and the result?

In goal: Julian Krahl; Jan Elvedi, Luca Sich, and Jannis Heuer as the back three; Frank Ronstadt and Florian Kleinhansl on the wings; Filip Kaloc, Boris Tomiak, and Marlon Ritter in midfield; Daisuke Yokota and Ragnar Ache up front. My realistic prediction is a 3–1 win for VfB.

Note: This interview was translated from German via ChatGPT.