The 1. FC Nürnberg tickets also featured an original motif before the 1-0 defeat against Karlsruher SC: two manga-style comic characters dressed in red and black. Print: “The FCN rules here!” That’s exactly what the hosts didn’t do on this Sunday afternoon. Instead, KSC ruled almost exclusively, dominating the first half at will and taking the lead in the 37th minute: Igor Matanovic scored after preparatory work by Marvin Wanitzek, who had previously had three chances himself (3rd/16th/25th). ). The 0-1 was also the final score; the club was out of the question about scoring their own goals.
There was nothing wrong – neither in the forward play nor in the defensive behavior, which the visibly shaken FCN coach Cristian Fiél happily and honestly admitted: “I hope you will forgive me that I don’t say a word in the first half,” he said Then he lost his words: “We weren’t there, not with the ball, not without the ball.” Again and again, after two or three passing stations, the ball ended up with the aggressively disruptive Baden team, who were more confident on the ball and in combinations even when they had the ball. When the club did come close to the Karlsruhe penalty area, the KSC were already in the majority again because two or three Nuremberg midfielders avoided the forward movement.
What the club’s supporters were left with at half-time, given the mysterious failure of all systems, was the hope that someone would tell this team that they were behind. And the fact that the local rivals from Fürth were now leading 3-2 at SV Wehen-Wiesbaden after being 2-0 down – in the end the Franconians won 5-3. After the surprising Lauterer victory in Kiel, a Hessian victory would have been fatal for the Franconians’ short-term season forecast, although the table is somewhat threatening: only five points separate the club from relegation relegation with three match days left.
After all: the club became a little more energetic in the second half and Sebastian Andersson was able to move KSC keeper Patrick Drewes through for the first time this afternoon after just over an hour (58th). Lukas Schmelzer did it again shortly afterwards (66th) – and yet little changed in the overall impression: This Nuremberg team, which can play respectable and successful football on the good days, of which there were a few in the first half of the season, has been showing for weeks and months no crisis resistance.
Some of the fans have identified a scapegoat: sports director Dieter Hecking
“We want to see you fight,” chanted those parts of the north curve who had not yet frozen in shock as stoppage time began. A helpless sentence – but one that club captain Enrico Valentini, who interestingly called for more seriousness in training, nevertheless described as a “last resort”: “It hurts the most and it should. We should feel that. ” The fact that their team didn’t get the ball for more than a few seconds in the four minutes of stoppage time and that KSC almost arrogantly wasted two opportunities to make it 2-0 was fitting for this overall depressing afternoon from Nuremberg’s perspective, which is likely to have lasting effects.
At the start of the season, Fiél prescribed a courageous, attractive style of play for the FCN, which thrilled the fans and led to ovations at the general meeting in November. He is currently having to watch as his club not only slips in terms of play – but also in the table as 17th in the second half of the season. Meanwhile, some of the fans have identified another scapegoat: sports director Dieter Hecking, who spoke to the team on Sunday for the second time in a few days. At the latest after the end of the season, possibly earlier, another upheaval could occur at FCN. For a long time it seemed as if at least one step in development was possible this season after the team was stuck in the relegation battle three times in the last four years. In any case, the feeling that things are moving forward at the club has been completely lost for the time being.