soccer - Hansa-Trainer Hollerbach: 'We must accept the 3. Liga'
Hansa Rostock's new trainer Bernd Hollerbach is preparing his team for a challenging season in the 3. Football League, as he sees it. "We no longer play in the 2. League, which we would all rather talk about. We have to accept the 3. League from the ground up, don't believe it's easy", the 55-year-old said in an interview with the "Ostsee-Zeitung". Otherwise, Hansa is like Arminia Bielefeld last year, warned the former professional of Hamburger SV and FC St. Pauli. The Ostwestfalen had to fight against relegation as a second league relegated team in the previous season of the 3. Liga. "The 3. League is a marathon with 38 games. It will be a very difficult season with close matches", said the trainer. "We have to be alert from the start." Hollerbach was hired by FC Hansa after their relegation from the 2. Bundesliga.
Boosting players' self-confidence
In the first few weeks, he conducted intensive talks with the players. Self-confidence was not particularly strong, he said. "You can tell with many players: as soon as they have a negative experience, their heads go down and the worrying starts." That's why he tried to talk to the players and give them self-confidence. "I always say: it's no problem if someone makes a mistake. We all do. You just have to bounce back." A reinforcement is being sought for the squad in attack. "I can say, Amir Shapourzadeh (Director Professional Football) and Thomas Finck (Chief Scout) are giving it their all", said Hollerbach. "It's not that simple. Other clubs and agents know that Hansa needs a striker urgently. Then prices are called, and you ask yourself: are we playing in the first league?" Hollerbach hopes that a new striker will come soon. The season begins for the Rostockers on August 3rd against the second team of VfB Stuttgart. The general rehearsal is scheduled for the coming Saturday (3:00 PM) against the Italian first league team Lazio Rom. Hollerbach would also like to absolve another test game before the start of the season.
- Bernd Hollerbach, the newly appointed trainer of Hansa Rostock, acknowledged the challenges ahead in Eastern Westphalia's 3. League, as he compared it to Arminia Bielefeld's struggle last year.
- Despite the tough competition in the 3. League, which is a lengthy 38-game marathon, Hollerbach emphasized the importance of staying alert from the beginning of the season.
- In an effort to boost players' self-confidence, Hollerbach held intensive talks with them, stressing that mistakes are inevitable and bouncing back is crucial.
- The manager indicated that Hansa Rostock is actively searching for a reinforcement in attack, acknowledging the complexity of the process given the team's urgent need for a striker and the ensuing high prices.
- With the new season commencing on August 3rd against VfB Stuttgart's second team, Hollerbach expressed his desire to organize another test game beforehand, possibly against an Italian first league team, like Lazio Rom.
