Before facing his first club as a head coach, Tayfun Korkut and his team are in a "comfortable position – although comfortable doesn’t automatically mean safe", warned the VfB coach ahead of the clash with a direct opponent in the table. As the same applies to Hannover, Korkut is expecting "a difficult game, which will demand everything we have to give."
Tayfun Korkut see more chance than pressure
The side in the shirts with the infamous red hoop will be facing "an awkward opponent, who are capable of surprising you and scoring goals from few chances." As was the case a week again: "We will have to be completely alert from the first second. We want to take the positive aspects from the first-half in Dortmund into this match and make more of them this time around. We also know we must strike – which means putting the ball in the net!" In spite of suffering their first defeat in nine outings, the VfB coach explained: "A healthy self-confidence remains and this week we have the chance to make sure of it." With a home win over Hannover, VfB would be mathematically guaranteed top-flight football in the coming season – provided Mainz don’t beat Freiburg on Monday night.
Although both co-trainer Steven Cherundolo and keeper Ron-Robert Zieler spent very significant periods of their respective careers in Hannover, the sporting situation takes clear priority over any personal issues: "It will be a meeting of some old friends – but above all it’s a game between VfB and Hannover 96." From his first station as a head coach, Tayfun Korkut enjoys "good mutual respect and gratefulness."
At least one change to the starting eleven
On Thursday, the coach was playing his team-cards close to his chest, but due to the suspension to Santiago Ascacíbar, he will have a gap to fill in defensive midfield. Although the team has gelled well and functioned as a unit in recent weeks "there are a number of options and we can make the alterations necessary to compensate for his absence." A definitive decision will be made based on the remaining training sessions prior to the game.
After suffering a slight concussion a month ago, Timo Baumgartl "has now trained completely with the rest of the team without any grievances." Things are looking good, but Tayfun Korkut is "not taking any risks and playing it training session by training session." As yet it remains undecided as to whether the central-defender will play a role this Saturday.