Thomas Reis: Play good football, be brave, get stuck in

“We were lacking many of the things that had come to define us in the previous weeks,” Reis said when looking back on the deserved 2-0 loss in Sinsheim. He added that the team had gone over several key scenes from the defeat in their video sessions this week. “The key thing for me is that they see clear evidence of what went wrong, so that there is no room for excuses and that we’re able to learn from it,” Reis said. After the video sessions, the head coach gave the players the opportunity to discuss the game without any of the coaching staff in the room. “It’s about finding solutions together and getting certain ideas out of our heads, which is just part and parcel of the situation we’re currently in. It’s important that we are all on the same page when we step onto the pitch. That’s the feeling I get from the team,” he commented, while making clear what he hopes to see this weekend against Hertha: “On Friday, we want to show that side of us that we’ve gotten used to seeing in recent weeks!”

Reason to be optimistic for Jenz – 25 outfield players in training

Moritz Jenz looks set to return the squad ahead of Friday’s game, having missed the last two matches with a thigh issue. Several players have been able to return this week, giving Reis 25 outfielders to choose from against the Berliners. “Things are looking good, and I’ll have plenty of options to choose from,” he said when asked about the selection process for the 20-man matchday squad.

Regardless of who is available, Reis is looking for his team to be more dominant than they have been lately. “We want to play good football, be brave, get stuck in and keep all three points here, with the help of the fans,” said the 49-year-old, who is expecting a tough and intense match. “I will set the tone and the team will definitely follow suit,” said the coach, who is fully aware of the importance of Friday’s six-pointer. “We know that it’s a very important game and that we have the chance to move up the table into the play-off spot, at least for the night. That’s an extra bit of motivation for us.”

The Royal Blues will be able to count on the passionate support of the home fans once again, but Reis is aware that this support cannot be a one-way affair. “We need to do everything we can on the pitch so that the fans see that the team are giving it their all in order to be successful. If we do that, then the mood will remain positive,” he said.

Three points a must

The aim for Friday’s game against Hertha, who currently sit just one point ahead of Schalke in the table, is clear: three points. “Hertha BSC are under just as much pressure,” said Reis, who is looking for his side to fight hard and win challenges. “The most important thing is that we have a successful game.”