Lieberknecht: We feel comfortable in our snail shell

Relegation battle - Lieberknecht: We feel comfortable in our snail shell

In the snail's race against relegation from the Bundesliga, Darmstadt coach Torsten Lieberknecht believes the promoted team is on target ahead of the basement duel with bottom-placed 1. FC Köln. "We are above the bottom line. So we feel comfortable in our shell. We look out from time to time and put out feelers. If we do the same at the end of the season, we'll have won the snail race," said Lieberknecht ahead of Friday evening's match (8.30pm/DAZN).

His Cologne coach colleague Steffen Baumgart had already predicted: "The snail race will continue." FC have collected just six points in twelve games. Darmstadt are in 15th place with nine points. "At some point, you have to play against each other. And someone has to get a point," said Baumgart.

While Cologne have fallen far short of expectations so far this season, Hesse have now acclimatized to the Bundesliga. "Before the season, many people thought we'd be where FC Köln are at the moment. We've done a decent job so far and are continuing to try and improve," said Lieberknecht.

SV Darmstadt 98 squad 1. FC Köln squad Soccer Bundesliga table Soccer Bundesliga fixture list

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1. Despite struggling in the Bundesliga, 1. FC Köln's coach Steffen Baumgart acknowledged that they will eventually face their fellow struggling team, SV Darmstadt 98, in a relegation battle.
2. Torsten Lieberknecht, Darmstadt's coach, expressed confidence in his team's bid for survival, likening their stance to a snail securely in its shell.
3. Lieberknecht emphasized that Darmstadt is currently above the relegation zone, making them comfortable in their current position, despite occasionally peering out to observe the competition.
4. Darmstadt and Cologne both find themselves in the midst of a grueling relegation battle in the German soccer league, with only nine and six points, respectively.
5. Lieberknecht acknowledged the challenges his team faced before the Bundesliga season, stating that many thought they would struggle like Cologne, but they've managed to hold their ground thus far.
6. While Cologne has yet to meet expectations in the Bundesliga, Darmstadt has adapted well to the high-pressure league and is still striving for further improvement.
7. As both teams gear up for their upcoming clash, Baumgart acknowledged that ultimately, one must emerge victorious in this cellar duel, adding more pressure to an already tense relegation battle.
8. The relegation struggle is far from over for either Darmstadt or Cologne, as both teams will look to secure vital points in their quest to avoid a descent back to the 2. Bundesliga, adding another layer of intrigue to this Bundesliga snail race.

Source: www.stern.de