Koschinat ahead of S04 game: Not the "very blatant underdog"
Third from bottom against bottom of the table - for new coach Uwe Koschinat, the big challenge for VfL Osnabrück begins on Friday evening with a relegation battle at FC Schalke 04. "Both clubs would have wished for a completely different starting position before the season," said Koschinat ahead of this basement duel in the 2nd Bundesliga (Friday, 6.30 pm/Sky). "With Schalke, it would have been a matter of course to play for promotion. The season has completely blown up in their faces so far. That's why I don't see us in a situation where we are the very, very glaring outsiders."
The former coach of Arminia Bielefeld, 1. FC Saarbrücken and SV Sandhausen was appointed in Osnabrück on Monday as the successor to popular promotion coach Tobias Schweinsteiger. Osnabrück have been winless in the 2nd Bundesliga for seven games.
"I have noticed to a very high degree that this squad is not down at all or in any way disillusioned or even divided," said Koschinat. "Instead, the team is very willing to perform and is absolutely embracing this situation. I also see great optimism in the environment - and I want to encourage that through my work."
Koschinat's VfL Osnabrück face a daunting task in Bundesliga 2, as they prepare to take on relegation-threatened FC Schalke 04. Despite their current position as third from bottom and Schalke's status as bottom of the table, Koschinat believes that VfL Osnabrück are not the "very blatant underdog" in this relegation battle.
Before the season, both VfL Osnabrück and FC Schalke 04 would have hoped for a different starting position in the 2nd Bundesliga. However, Schalke's season has unfortunately taken a different turn, making the outcome of this basement duel uncertain.
Source: www.dpa.com
