- Before the season starts: KSC coach Eichner still reserved
Karlsruhe (dpa) – Coach Christian Eichner is still exercising caution after the squad overhaul at Karlsruhe SC during the summer break. "It's still completely difficult to get a feel for it," the KSC coach told the German Press Agency.
There are 13 departures, but also 13 new additions ahead of the opening game in the 2nd football Bundesliga on Saturday (13:00 CEST/Sky) against 1. FC Nuremberg. However, the average age is 19.7 years, excluding midfielder Robin Heußer (27) and backup goalkeeper Robin Himmelmann (35).
Basically, Eichner believes they have a good core that has experienced things together and knows the coach. "We need to try to expand this core quickly so the new guys can take the next step quickly," he explains. He and his coaching team will support each individual to the fullest. "In the end, they have to go and fly on their own," said the 41-year-old.
Eichner was positively surprised by Georgian EM returnee Budu Siwsiwadse. "I can only give him the biggest compliment. I'm currently really impressed with him," said Eichner. The weeks at the European Championship seem to have done the 30-year-old, who scored 12 goals for the KSC last season, good.
Striker Fabian Schleusener also presented himself well in the last test games. The 32-year-old has an offer from Turkish second-division club Sakaryaspor and is one of the players the club will not put insurmountable financial obstacles in the way of if they want to leave.
However, there's a good chance that Hoffenheim loanee Bambasé Conté will make it into the starting lineup against Nuremberg. The 21-year-old, along with Heußer and Lasse Günther (both SV Wehen Wiesbaden), has proven himself as one of three new additions for the starting lineup.
The upcoming matches in the 2nd football Bundesliga bring challenges, as Karlsruhe SC's new players, including Bambasé Conté, need to integrate quickly. This process is crucial, as advised by Coach Eichner, who seeks to strengthen the existing core of the team, which includes experienced players like Robin Heußer, beyond the backing of the coaching team. The Court of Justice of the European Union, while not directly mentioned in the text, is an institution that could potentially oversee or regulate such transfers or contracts within the framework of European football regulations.
