Karlsruhe coach Christian Eichner had a lot to work through with his team after a turbulent week. The focus was on eliminating their own simple mistakes and defending as a unit again.
Karlsruher SC is going up and down at the moment. In the league, the team lost against Düsseldorf (1:3) and Paderborn (2:4), but in the cup, they managed to score against Bundesliga side Leverkusen (2:1) with a good portion of luck. However, the most recent match against SCP was a particularly gruelling one for KSC, who put in a sub-par performance in the first half before almost managing a spectacular comeback in the second.
“The days after the Paderborn game were used to process the emotional rollercoaster with the team,” coach Christian Eichner reported at the press conference before the upcoming match against HSV. On the one hand, the KSC coach let his players regenerate, and on the other, “we worked through the game and put a tick in it,” Eichner said.
Reduce individual mistakes
During the reappraisal, the focus was mainly on the defensive work, after all, Paderborn let them in for four goals in twelve minutes. “There are two things to work on: Reduce the individual number of goals conceded and then get the collective defending of the boys better internalised again,” Eichner explains his approach.
On Saturday evening, the Karlsruhe defence will again have their work cut out, as Hamburg, one of the strongest teams in the league, will be coming to the Wildpark. “HSV is extremely diligent with possession. There is a clear idea behind it from the coach. That’s how they wear down their opponents. But I can adjust to that,” Eichner knows about the strengths of the Hanseatic team, who have already drawn seven times this season.
Personnel-wise, the situation has not changed compared to the Paderborn game, the long-term injured are still in rehab. “All the injured are making great, great progress. It’s just a matter of continuing to keep all fingers crossed that everyone will show an optimal healing process,” Eichner hopes for an early return of Robin Bormuth & Co.