Professionals, 4. October 2018
The 44-year-old head coach, his assistant coach Steven Cherundolo and goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler return to their former stomping-ground. Between 2014 and 2015, Hannover was the first trainer-station in the Bundesliga for Tayfun Korkut, Steven Cherundolo is a former captain, all-time record appearance maker and club legend in Lower Saxony. "For him this match is more significant than it is for me. Over a period of 15 years he made over 200 Bundesliga appearances for 96," explained the head coach on his assistant. Tayfun Korkut has "a little more distance to the club, but I do look back on my first Bundesliga station fondly".
On Thursday however, the 44-year-old had no interest in looking back though, but rather forwards: "We want to achieve the next stage-victory on the way up the table and work our way into mid-table step-by-step." The relief of the win against Bremen has given the Cannstatt Boys a boost: "To ultimately win such a tight and difficult game with such great moral naturally does enormous good." Particularly important for the coach, was that his side "remained persistent and showed a positive reaction following some difficult moments." Now it’s all about building on that and using the home win as a catalyst for the clash with Hannover.
Five Bundesliga games without defeat in Hannover
The side in the shirts with the infamous hoop have not lost a Bundesliga game in the Lower Saxony capital since February 2012. In the last five top-flight clashes away to Hannover 96, VfB won one and drew four. When the sides last met at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in April, H96 striker Niclas Füllkrug netted in the last-minute to make the final score 1-1. Generally speaking, meetings between the two clubs have been evenly-balanced affairs: Having both been relegated in 2016, both clubs immediately returned to the top-flight the following season and survived there last summer.
For Tayfun Korkut, the situation for the Lower Saxony club is illustrated by "how tight things currently are in the Bundesliga and how quickly things can be turned around. Just over a month ago, Hannover opened their campaign with a point each against Bremen and Dortmund – two very good opponents. They will be doing everything in their power to claim a home win," warned the VfB head coach, with a view to his former club. As to how his current team will deal with the task, Korkut explained "it’s less a question of the basic order, but rather more about the will and determination we show in our approach to the task."