FCS expert: From Lottner to Kwasniok made sense

The chapter of the third division was closed for the time being for four seasons after relegation in 2014 . From then on, FC Saarbrücken endeavoured to return to the third tier – without success to date. This season, which is suspended until further notice due to the coronavirus pandemic, it’s looking promising from top spot in the Regional League South-West that promotion will be back on the agenda when the season restarts.

And the Blue and Blacks are not only flying high in the league: They have hit the headlines across Germany in the DFB Cup after knocking Bundesliga clubs FC Köln and Fortuna Düsseldorf out of the competition. And FCS are the first-ever fourth tier club to reach the semi-finals – to face Bayer 04.

Patric Cordier has reported on FCS for over 25 years – he has worked as a freelance journalist at the Saarbrücker Zeitung for twelve years – and he has only missed a handful of Saarbrücken games during that time. The 51-year-old talks about the surprising change of coaches in December 2019, the fathers of the revival and the desire for the clash with the Werkself.

Mr Cordier, FCS returned to training today under certain safety constraints. You were one of four selected journalists there. What was the session like?
The squad split up six groups of four in a three shift system on two pitches. The club was rigorous in implementing all the DFL hygiene guidelines and the requirements of the local authorities – including distancing rules, no spectators etc. The players primarily did light running and ball drills. But it was more important to see all of them enjoy being back on the training ground at long last.

What’s your assessment of the season for Saarbrücken ahead of the break due to the coronavirus pandemic?
FC Saarbrücken were and are, as in recent years, the big favourites to win the title. Promotion was the target for the club before the start of the season. Everything else was secondary. Therefore, top spot is not surprising – but the performances in the DFB Cup certainly are.

You’ve touched on it. The Regional League side knocked out FC Köln (3-2) and Fortuna Düsseldorf (7-6 on penalties).
I was on the touchline along with some colleagues for the final minutes of the quarter-final and we all agreed: It was sporting history! An amateur team can go through in the first round – even though FCS is more like a professional club. Bundesliga teams should be warned. Now, Saarbrücken are the first fourth division side ever to be in a semi-final. Everybody is longing for the game against Bayer 04. Even if the quality of the team is higher than the previous opponents – why shouldn’t the Saarbrücken dream carry on?

Who are the key players at FCS this season?
The team is at a very high level for this league. That starts with Daniel Batz in goal. With his five penalty saves against Düsseldorf attracted the attention of the media that is extraordinary for a Regional League goalkeeper. Christopher Schorch and Boné Uaferro are solid in defence in front of him. In midfield there is the homegrown captain Manuel Zeitz, Steven Zellner is the allrounder and Sebastian Jacob scores the goals up front (17 in 19 league games, ed.). Even though I don’t like hearing the answer as a journalist, I have to say: FCS are defined by the team ethic and togetherness.

Dirk Lottner played for Bayer 04 (1997 to 1999). After three and a half years working with FCS and being top of the table why did the head coach get sacked in December?
The club management were no longer convinced by the style of play and tactical approach of a back three. The 1-0 defeat at TSV Steinbach (30 November 2019, ed.) finally led to the sacking. He worked well here for three and a half years. But the only challenge was to get promoted – and he failed. Everything was sacrificed to that target in the end. Dirk Lottner too. The change – even if it was seen as rather strange in many places, of sacking the coach when you’re the league leaders – did make sense. The club got a boost with the successor Lukas Kwasniok.

From a distance, Lukas Kwasniok appears to be a thoroughly charismatic head coach. What are his special qualities? What role has he played in the achievements in the DFB Cup and the league?
He’s a coach in the best sense of the word and tries to develop his players in every training session. He can shout out across the pitch and, in the next moment explain things in a rational manner. At the end of the day, he’s a very meticulous worker with a working day that covers 22 hours.

Who else is responsible for the change in fortune at Saarbrücken?
The current sporting director Marcus Mann won promotion to the third division as a player and captain with FCS in 2010 and has great identification with the club. He’s a quiet and meticulous worker who has very good connections. CEO David Fischer has contributed to a more professional approach at the club. A certain calm has come to the club with Mann and vice-president Dieter Ferner and that’s not always the case with a traditional club. That’s a pity for us journalists as not as much information leaks out (laughs). It’s paid dividends that the president and main sponsor Hartmut Ostermann – whose chain of hotels made it at all possible to have football here at this level – gives experts a free rein.

Another quick look back at the cup ties to date: What role does the atmosphere in Völklingen play in the cup results?
It’s definitely a culture shock for Bundesliga teams. They come to half a stadium and surely think: “What sort of village sports ground have I ended up at?” There’s no stand on one side. Just a stream and the swimming baths behind it. We joked before the draw: Hopefully it will be FC Bayern. They get out of the bus at the front, look at the stadium and then get back on straight away.

FCS moved to Völklingen into the Hermann Neuberger Stadium because Ludwigspark is being rebuilt. Where’s the stadium project up to?
The fans are dreaming and hoping their team will play there in the third division next season. Even if the stadium isn’t completely finished. This cup campaign has been balm for the soul after the difficult years of relegation and missed promotions. And for many, it’s definitely painful not to be able see the game against Bayer 04 in Völklingen due to the pandemic.

Against the background of the stadium being rebuilt, does the club see the prospect of returning to the professional leagues – that is: Bundesliga or second division ?
Thanks to the cup campaign, FCS – also after one or another negative headline over recent years – caused a stir across the country and again attracted new support. As with newly promoted Waldhof Mannheim (currently second in the third division, ed.), Saarbrücken could compete at the top of the third division. Luck always plays a part in the end but the potential is definitely there to be in the second division. They’re on the right track with the people in charge, patience is evident – and now it’s about FCS being rewarded with promotion and perhaps the DFB Cup final.