Crisis in lower Saxony : Hannover 96 gets but Christmas holidays

The Christmas holiday is not deleted from the players of Hannover 96 now. Coach André Breitenreiter after a disastrous first half of the season in the office. The 0:1 (0:0) home defeat against direct rivals Fortuna Düsseldorf on Saturday was the "icing on the cake" (Manager Horst Heldt) to a half full of club internal disputes and sporting setbacks. However, the table focuses next-to-last in his attempt to prevent the recurrence of relegation from the football League, yet alone to measure: New players in the winter break.

"We need to see that we get one or other of the staff exchange of fresh air to come in," said Heldt. "Giving up now would be pure madness."

On the day before Christmas, all were in Hanover once more. The players were told in a team meeting that you are now but up to and including 27. December free. Originally Breitenreiter had promised them, at the holidays through exercise, if you do not get from the last Hinrunden Games against Freiburg (1:1) and Düsseldorf (0:1) at least three points. On Sunday, the coach, the Manager and the club boss Martin kind met for the interview. All of this demonstrated a Form of Unity, at 96. It no longer could but also prevent that this is the first half of the season all the damage going out.

André width rider lost in the question of the Christmas holiday a lot of authority and credibility. Horst Heldt now has until the first game at 19. January rebuild against Werder Bremen a squad, the he self-only in the summer. And also President of the child must live with the fact that his takeover plans have caused a for months, the continued unrest around the club, which is a burden to the team in a relegation battle. Any potential new arrival is likely to consider very carefully whether he goes this Winter, of all things, to Hannover.

Only 11 points after 17 Games: the are no strong arguments for the 96. Nevertheless, the coach is just more combative. "The Situation is difficult for all of us," said Breitenreiter on Sunday. "But I'm a fighter, not hiding."

In his attempt of crisis management, the 45-Year-old is also a medium, which is avoided in the Bundesliga, otherwise, better: the relentless openness. To criticized already at the beginning of the week he has his best striker Niclas Füllkrug, by comparing him with a renegade student. After the game against Düsseldorf breitenreiter acknowledged in front of the cameras: "We have noticed over many weeks that the team is not a unit. We have seen in the cabin, we got in talks with the man Council said. I had not estimated so extremely, but the signals were clear. We have been asked by the man Council to help.“

His threat to eliminate the players of the Christmas holiday, and want to know the coach, in retrospect, only as an "auxiliary measure". "The three points, we have brought in this week. The goal that the team presented as a unit, we have achieved,“ he said on Sunday.

Nevertheless manoeuvred the width of the tab in the case of this topic, in a Situation in which he could only lose. Such a threat, at least in large Parts of collect, it weakens his Position in front of the team. Because of the seriousness of the possible announcements to take in the season?

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On the other hand, the damage would likely be even greater if this ailing Team would have to actually until the beginning of the second round by train. Because against Düsseldorf on Saturday, a team that prior to the late 0:1 by Oliver Fink (90.+2) should have fallen behind. Haphazard, exhausted, confused - Hannover dragged at the end of the course. A bit of distance and Regeneration do this Team good. "We need to get air and then in the back round is all you throw," said midfielder Pirmin Schwegler. "We need to be better." (dpa)