Darmstadt 98 has been relegated from the Bundesliga. It’s not tragic that the lilies die again after just one year. The way this season played out was more than unnecessary. Also because the direction of march was changed early on. A comment.
By Nicolas Herold
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Video 02:33 min. | 04/29/24, 7:30 p.m. |hessenschau
The lily’s descent is sealed – the disappointment is great
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SV Darmstadt 98 is relegated after just one year in the Bundesliga. This news, which became reality yesterday evening after the 0-1 home defeat against Heidenheim, no longer surprised anyone. The lilies were too far behind in the table, the saving shore was too far away. The fact that the South Hessians now have to compete in the lower house of football again is not at all tragic. The nature of this descent is rather tragic. Almost the whole season.
It was clear from the start: the 98ers would need an exorbitantly good season if their trip to the Bundesliga was to last a long time. Even an average season wouldn’t be enough, everyone in Darmstadt was aware of that. The fact that it turned out to be such a poor season in terms of sport hurts both those involved and those responsible. And it could have been avoided to this extent.
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05:12 Min.
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28.04.24
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Highlights: Darmstadt – Heidenheim
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Never really got into the league
Especially in the second half of the first half of the season, when the Lilies had actually found their feet after a difficult start, the direction and tactics were visibly and noticeably changed. After furious performances like the 3:3 against Gladbach or the 4:2 against Bremen, when the Lilies wanted to “devour” their opponents from minute one, the South Hesse team performed completely differently after the painful 0:8 in Munich. A mistake that they have already admitted to themselves in Darmstadt.
In home games against direct rivals in November and December, in which it was quite possible to gain points and thus gain ground, an overly defensive and cautious approach meant that they missed out on really getting into the league. There was no more “eating up” and the little lily flight was over early.
Bader takes stock of how Darmstadt can become a bit like Heidenheim
A little bit of everything was missing. Darmstadt’s Matthias Bader looks back soberly on a Bundesliga season that will end in relegation. The upcoming opponent Heidenheim mercilessly holds a mirror up to the Lilies and shows what the South Hesse team has to do better in the next attempt.
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Relegation also offers a chance for a new beginning
The Lilies couldn’t find their way back on track afterwards and their self-confidence fell from week to week. At some point, counting the number of games without a win in a row became torture – for everyone involved. Descents always hurt, but this one hurts even more because of the way it goes. Because it was absolutely unnecessary in this severity.
For the Lilies it will now be a matter of turning the mood in and around the club, which has sometimes turned extremely negative, back into a positive one. Torsten Lieberknecht will continue to be the coach, and a new sports director, Paul Fernie, is already there. Of course, the early relegation also offers the chance of a new beginning. The lilies should use it.
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