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Professionals, 18. January 2018

Premiere in the premiere?

VfB’s first away game of the year sees them travel to 1. FSV Mainz 05. There Hannes Wolf and his men will be looking to secure their first away win of the season.

Hannes Wolf doesn’t want to wait any longer. "It’s time for the first away win," insisted the VfB head-coach two days before this Saturday’s clash with 1. FSV Mainz 05 (kick-off 15:30 CET). In their first away match of 2018, the 36-year-old and his team will be looking to celebrate their first three points away from home this season.

However, Hannes Wolf is well aware that it will be no easy task away to the side from the Rhine-Hessen region. "It will be a tough battle. We’ll have to sprint, run, work and be absolutely concentrated both in defence as well as on the attack," noted the coach. A victory would not just be important in VfB putting more distance between themselves and the drop-zone, but also a win over a direct opponent in the table. The coach considers his men to be well prepared for the task at hand. "The lads have worked very well all week," said Hannes Wolf. On Thursday, the head-coach welcomed new-signing Erik Thommy into the team for the first time. The 23-year-old made the move from FC Augsburg to VfB and could theoretically be a personnel alternative for this weekend’s away tie. A definitive decision will be made on Friday. "He is a technically gifted player and he impressed with Regensburg in the relegation play-off games against 1860 München at the end of last season. This transfer is a reaction to the departure of Josip Brekalo," explained Hannes Wolf.

As great as the joy at the new-signing may be, it could hardly mask the cloud cast by the injury to Carlos Mané (tendon tear to the thigh). "It’s so bitter! Surgery went well. We will support Carlos any way we can in getting back," declared the VfB coach. The possibility of the attacker making a comeback during the course of this season have thus been dashed. Orel Mangala (slight muscular problems) underwent an individual programme on Thursday. He is expected to return to full team training on Friday.