After the winning streak of 1st FC Magdeburg was put to an end by Viktoria Köln on the last matchday, the league leaders face SC Verl this weekend. Head coach Christian Titz spoke before the game about FCM’s long injury list and the upcoming opponent.
“The injured list is a bit longer “, said Magdeburg’s press officer Manuel Holscher at the beginning of the press conference before the match against SC Verl. Indeed, eight players are not available for FCM coach Titz ahead of the match on matchday 15 of the 3rd division, including Alexander Bittroff, who has been in good form lately, a torn muscle fibre in his calf preventing him from playing. Captain Tobias Müller is missing due to a red suspension, and it remains to be seen whether outfielder Florian Kath will be fit in time.
We played 90 minutes shorthanded and still lost unhappily.
Titz was relaxed about the personnel situation: “Because we have a certain squad width, we still have enough players available, including guys with quality. The training week went very well.” There have also been a few returnees, so they have enough options to find the best solution for the upcoming game, he added.
Even the defeat against Cologne, who are in the bottom of the table, on the last matchday hardly bothered the 50-year-old, this was certainly due to the way it had come about. Already in the third minute, captain Tobias Müller had seen red after an emergency brake. “We played a game for 90 minutes outnumbered and it was still a very unfortunate defeat, “ said Titz. “We would have had it in our hands to make the game different. “
The 0:4 defeat in February is history
The game against Verl is a small anniversary for Titz, his first home game as Magdeburrg coach was also against SC in February, when they lost 4-0. However, the game nine months ago had not been a topic in the preparation for the upcoming duel. “We live in the here and now. It’s about how Verl are set up, what players they have available, how they want to play us and what ideas we have to counter them.”
FCM are currently four points clear in first place in the 3. Liga, while Verl are close to the relegation places with 16 points. With a surprising win, the visitors could pull away a little from the dangerous zone.
