The SC Paderborn likes to go on trips, even very much: The East Westphalians brought home a proud 16 points from their six away games. This is probably one of the reasons why the third-placed team in the table is looking forward to the game at Hannover 96 on Friday evening.
“We’re really looking forward to it,” said Paderborn coach Lukas Kwasniok at the press conference on Thursday, giving an insight into his life and that of his team. Can the SCP take advantage of the precarious situation in Lower Saxony? “Hannover currently have their backs to the wall. We can play freely,” said Kwasniok, but immediately added: “But that doesn’t make the situation any easier.
Kwasniok demands two attributes above all
The 40-year-old expects fierce resistance from the 96ers, who are languishing in 15th place and certainly want to improve their poor home record (2/1/3). On the other hand, the East Westphalians have been outstanding away from home, winning five games, drawing one and scoring 18 goals to 6. So it’s a foregone conclusion? Not at all, says Kwasniok: “We need an extreme amount of discipline and greed in Hannover,” says the Paderborn coach, calling for familiar (away) attributes to be brought in.
Quintet drops out, trio questionable
Kwasniok will have to do without at least a quintet: Marco Stiepermann, Johannes Dörfler, Frederic Ananou, Marcel Mehlem and Maximilian Thalhammer are out for various reasons. In addition, the coach let it be known that regulars Jamilu Collins, Julian Justvan and Felix Platte are “questionable for the starting line-up”. At least for Platte, Kwasniok named a possible replacement: “Dennis Srbeny is taking his current role very well and offering himself in training.” But he was “final with his considerations for tomorrow”.
According to managing director Martin Hornberger, support is assured for the current third-placed team, who would climb to the top of the table at least until Saturday afternoon with a win: around 1,300 fans will accompany the team to Hannover.