MSV Duisburg's Hirsch Talks Upcoming Clash with Schalke II and Criticizes Turkspor’s Withdrawal
MSV Duisburg's manager, Dietmar Hirsch, has laid bare his thoughts as they gear up to face the Schalke II side in the Regionalliga West. On Friday evening (March 14, 19:30 CET, RS Live ticker), the Zebras will look to solidify their dominance with a crucial victory against the U23 team from FC Schalke.
Despite their position at the bottom of the table, Hirsch warns not to underestimate Schalke. Under the guidance of coach Jakob Fimpel, they are currently eight games unbeaten. "Their structure has shifted a bit. Schalke’s defence is sturdy, and they’ve conceded few goals recently. I watched them against Wuppertal,” Hirsch remarked on the challenges posed by Schalke.
With a focus on maintaining patience and a high tempo, he noted, “Results are vital for Schalke; they want to stay in the league. Their approach differs significantly from Gladbach, Cologne, or Düsseldorf, who are more or less safe.” Back in the first leg, MSV managed a narrow 2-1 win, with Tobias Fleckstein scoring a dramatic last-minute winner.
Excitement is bubbling in the Duisburg camp. "It’s another home game for us, with 16,000 fans expected, which isn’t a given when facing a reserve team on a Friday night. The mood is positive, as the lads are putting in the effort. The support from our ranks is tremendous. I hope we can replicate this dynamic on Friday, back up our performances, and claim the win,” he declared.
Hirsch also touched on a significant topic raised at the press conference—the abrupt withdrawal of Turkspor Dortmund from the Regionalliga West. He finds it outrageous that such a situation can arise. “In a professional league like the Regionalliga West, there should be safeguards in place to prevent such withdrawals. It’s deeply unfortunate. We’re in the final third of the season, and now the table is completely skewed!” he expressed, visibly exasperated.
“We’re dealing with professional football here and aspirations to rise to the 3. Liga,” Hirsch elaborated. “This shouldn’t happen in the Regionalliga. The 3. Liga ensures that competitions are completed. I struggle to understand this and see it as somewhat unsporting.” He criticized the dubious reasons behind Dortmund's decision, stating that such issues regarding “body language” are not valid justifications for withdrawal.
In light of this, Hirsch believes stricter measures should be adopted regarding certain teams. “No matter who it is, we are a professional league, standing on the brink of the 3. Liga. If we are the stepping stone, then the season must proceed fairly, both on the pitch and financially. Right now, I don’t see that!”
- Resource: "Reviersport"