Only two goals conceded in four games – the fact that SV Darmstadt 98 are so stable at the moment is also down to Thomas Isherwood. Together with Patric Pfeiffer, who is a year younger, the 23-year-old Swede forms a very strong central defence.
It was a golden October for SV Darmstadt 98 – and for Thomas Isherwood. For the Sandhausen game, Isherwood moved into the starting line-up for the veteran Lasse Sobiech, who had fallen ill. Since then, he has always been on the pitch for the entire match and the Lilies have not lost a game.
For the 23-year-old, this is above all the result of a strong team performance. It makes his job easier when he has a good team around him. Pfeiffer is a strong supporting player. Goalkeeper Marcel Schuhen directs from behind. The back four works well overall. But the players in front of the defence and even the strikers also have their share: “Defensive work starts at the front,” he says. “We have the mentality that we help each other. “
The first goal is still a long time coming
At the same time, the 1.95-metre man is always getting involved in the offensive, especially in standard situations. “We have good standards,” he says. What Tobias Kempe does there borders on magic. Against Sandhausen, Emir Karic converted a deflected Isherwood header. Against Nuremberg, he put his opponent Christopher Schindler under so much pressure that he headed the ball into his own goal. “That was a normal duel,” Isherwood clarifies. He was even pushed himself in the process. When will he score his first goal for the Lilies? Hopefully soon, he answers. “But I don’t want to focus on that, I want to focus on the things that are my job. “
The difficult start in Darmstadt
Isherwood, who trained for three years at FC Bayern Munich, joined the Lilies last January. But a syndesmosis tear suffered in training sidelined him for weeks. A torn muscle fibre then set him back in summer preparation. He played his first game in the starting line-up at the beginning of August in the cup defeat against 1860 Munich, and only made his first league appearance at the end of September against Heidenheim. In the meantime, he has completely made up for the shortfall: “I am stronger, I am fitter, I feel very good at the moment,” he says.
Every game like a cup final
He is already looking forward to Sunday’s game against Schalke, pointing to the club’s reputation, the strength of the squad and the big stadium. The fact that the Lilies could leapfrog Schalke if they win is of no consequence to Isherwood. “I go into every game like a cup final,” he says. At the moment, he says, the team is on a good run and is going into the game unafraid of the opponent’s big names. “We will do everything to score against Schalke. “
