Matthias Kreutzer: Belief is key

Friday’s game will be the 40-year-old assistant coach’s third match as interim boss overall. He first performed the role at the start of 2022 as the Royal Blues won at 1. FC Ingolstadt in the second division, before doing it again away to Hertha BSC last October in the top flight. “This is a tricky situation because our next game is so soon. My full focus is on Friday night,” said Kreutzer.

Focus on Paderborn

The tactics for Friday’s match are not the most important thing for Kreutzer: “Our belief will be key. Every player needs to play with conviction so that we can find a way to win the game.”

The interim coach is confident that he can find the right words for the players. “Everything I say has to have an effect because we don’t have much time and can only influence what’s in our own hands,” said the 40-year-old. “We are all required to look at ourselves in the mirror, switch our focus to Paderborn and to not waste our energy on our other things.”

Focus on Paderborn

Kreutzer has already analysed S04’s next opponents: “Paderborn can play with a number of different systems. They are a team that like to have the ball, but can also break quickly at pace.” Just one point currently separates the two teams in the table.

The Royal Blues will name a similar squad to the one that travelled to play St. Pauli last time out. Goalkeepers Marius Müller and Ralf Fährmann remain unavailable, while Danny Latza, Ibrahima Cissé and Leo Greiml are all also not fit to play. Simon Terodde, Keke Topp and Thomas Ouwejan have all been able to complete parts of training this week. Centre-back Timo Baumgartl will remain with the U23s until Sunday (1/10) as part of the disciplinary measures taken against him.