"Most antisocial decision" inspires VfL Osnabrück

After the thrashing at Schalke, the mood at VfL Osnabrück threatens to change. However, the bottom team in the Bundesliga 2 bounced back impressively against league leaders St. Pauli. New coach Uwe Koschinat puts this down to a tough personnel decision.

It has long been clear that VfL Osnabrück will go into the winter break in a relegation place. Nevertheless, confidence has returned to the promoted team after the deserved 1:1 (0:1) draw against league leaders FC St. Pauli. "As a team, we've regained some of our honor," said new VfL coach Uwe Koschinat after his team's passionate performance. "We wrestled a point from the strongest team in the league. And more importantly, we won back the favor of the people, which can also make us proud."

The Osnabrück players were indeed celebrated by the fans in the sold-out stadium at Bremer Brücke after the match. A week earlier, after the 4-0 debacle at FC Schalke 04, the loyal supporters had voiced their disapproval for the first time. The mood threatened to turn sour, but at least the Purple & Whites were able to avert that with their performance against St. Pauli. "Floodlights, Bremer Brücke - that's what this club is all about," said goalkeeper Philipp Kühn.

The promoted goalkeeper had somewhat surprisingly been given preference over Lennart Grill. "It was the toughest and most antisocial decision a coach can make," said Koschinat. Tobias Schweinsteiger's successor justified the switch solely on the basis of Kühn's emotionality and his reputation among the fans. "Philipp has an incredible status here and is someone who can take the stadium with him," said Koschinat.

And the Osnabrück coach's plan worked. Led by Kühn, VfL bought the game from their clearly superior opponents and earned a deserved point thanks to some great saves from the goalkeeper. Jackson Irvine had already put St. Pauli ahead in the 6th minute, and substitute Charalambos Makridis rewarded a courageous Osnabrück performance after the break with a deserved equalizer (82').

"We're alive and we're competitive. At least if we bring the emotionality to the pitch that this stadium gives you," said Koschinat. Kühn also continues to believe in the rescue. "In January 2023, we were also a long way behind the promotion places. We have to go all-in every game so that we can somehow get back within reach. That's the way."