All about the next opponent: Interview with Kiel fans Chris and Falafel

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·25 de octubre de 2024

All about the next opponent: Interview with Kiel fans Chris and Falafel

After the Champions League glamour in Turin and Munich, the Bundesliga routine awaits at home on Saturday. The Bundesliga newcomer Holstein Kiel will be the guest. Chris and Falafel tell us how things are going with the “Storks.”

With the Red Stripe: How do you rate the season so far? Are you satisfied, or did you expect more?

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Chris/Falafel: Hi, and thanks for inviting us to share our thoughts here. Of course, we’re disappointed, but let’s be honest: we didn’t expect anything different. It’s the so-called “fight for survival.” What’s frustrating are the games against Hoffenheim, Wolfsburg, and Bochum – so-called “six-point games” against immediate table neighbors and opponents already marked as direct competition in the lower third of the league. Holstein often has phases where the team performs very well and even sets the tone. But then the quality and stamina aren’t enough, and individual mistakes creep in, which opponents take full advantage of. You can feel it; you tell yourself, “The boys can do it; Holstein isn’t far off.” As they say, hope dies last.

How do you rate Kiel’s chances of staying in the league?

Not good, especially if they keep conceding about three goals per game on average. No team can sustain that. If they want to stay up, they’ll need to strengthen through transfers in the winter. The focus should be on central defense, another right-back to relieve Timo Becker, and a higher-quality center forward. Otherwise, I’d rate the team chemistry as very good, and the boys just need more experience to handle certain situations better.

Kiel won the last two encounters back when both teams were in the second league. Stuttgart was the favorite back then as well. How likely is it for Kiel to pull off another win?

The situation is completely different now, with different players on both sides. VfB Stuttgart clearly holds the favorite role. Kiel has to treat every Bundesliga game as a final and give 120% just to have a chance.

Several coaching talents like Tim Walter, Markus Anfang, Ole Werner, and now Marcel Rapp have had their breakthroughs in Kiel. Is this a coincidence, or is there a system behind it?

In Kiel, things are quiet (also in the media sense), and the club officials can calmly assess coaches and coaching projects to find the right fit. There’s no pressure to make hasty decisions to “please people.” Additionally, the coach is given extensive trust, and even during tough times, the club management continues to fully support him.

How would you describe your style of play? What are the strengths and weaknesses?

Rapp has a clear identity and acts according to strict principles. Following his tactical role model Gian Piero Gasperini, he demands tactical discipline from his players, along with a certain level of flexibility on the field. Holstein’s attacking press particularly stands out to me. Shuto Machino and veteran Lewis Holtby – who, unfortunately, will miss the VfB match due to injury – excel here as the most meticulous forward and vocal coordinator. In promising pressing situations, the midfield pushes up to neutralize key opponent positions through smart positioning. Unfortunately, we haven’t capitalized on this much this season and have even been punished for the gaps this creates with line-breaking balls from world-class players.

We still see the build-up as a weakness. The center had to be restructured after our former captain Philipp Sander left. New additions Magnus Knudsen and Armin Gigovic have brought different profiles that didn’t exist in the previous season. Both think vertically, with Knudsen proving to be quick-thinking and resistant to pressing, while Gigovic stands out for his deep runs, which notably led to an honorary goal against Bayern. However, you can see that the players and profiles don’t yet harmonize at the required level. Misread runs or slowing the game under opposition pressure can be frustrating, but I think it’s all a matter of experience. Over time, the understanding between them will grow, these kinds of mistakes will be minimized, and the play will become more fluid. The question remains, though, whether the much-needed survival won’t be out of reach by then.

Who has been Kiel’s player of the season for you?

The season isn’t that old yet, but my standout players so far are my “My Guy,” Shuto Machino, who is in great form, as well as the questionable transfers from FK Rostov in Russia, Armin Gigovic, and Magnus Knudsen.

What’s your prediction and feeling for the game?

We’re, of course, rooting for Kiel with a prediction of 2–3, but realistically, I’m expecting a clear 3–1 for VfB.

Thank you!

Note: This interview was translated from German via ChatGPT