Bender and Toprak doubts ahead of Wolfsburg clash

At the press conference, Schmidt described Saturday's opponents VfL Wolfsburg as "a good team in the Bundesliga capable of qualifying for Europe. At the start of the season I thought they'd be up at the top straightaway. But that can happen in football: They didn't get off to a good start but after the change of coaches they will stand together in the home game. It's never easy at Wolfsburg. For us to win we have to show what we can do and play our game."

To achieve that, the Werkself will have to rediscover their strengths, play on the front foot and be focused in defence. "We are at our best when we play our game in a solid and intensive way. We'll do that tomorrow," announced Schmidt. The coach will not be on the bench due to his touchline ban. "I will definitely be in the stadium. I don't know exactly where as yet. Rudi Völler and Klaus Allofs are looking to find a solution."

Schmidt can perform his normal pre-match duties until just before the kick-off at 15.30 CET and the boss is keen to be as diligent as ever: "It's my job as coach to do my duty and help the team. In the 24 hours left I will prepare the team as best I can for the match. Then we’ll have a good chance of winning tomorrow's important game."

Schmidt said it remains to be seen whether key players Lars Bender and Ömer Toprak will be fit for the away game at the sixteenth-placed team: "It's not looking good and tending towards the negative at the moment. Lars Bender and Ömer Toprak have not trained with the team. Kevin Volland is suspended. Otherwise, everybody else is available."