The season for 1. FC Nürnberg is really starting now, isn’t it? The fantastic 4-0 win against Fürth has sparked new enthusiasm at the club. Goalkeeper Jan Reichert (23) is also hoping for a derby boost before the game on Friday (6:30 p.m. / Sky and highlights on BILD.de) against Jahn Regensburg.
The FCN keeper said, „Whether it’s a spark, I don’t know. It’s definitely nothing negative for us. We have important games coming up in the next few weeks. Now the focus is on Regensburg. It was a really good first step, and we naturally want to capitalize on it on Friday.“
Reichert sees the Derby breakthrough as a blueprint: „Throughout the entire game, we dominated the opponent, stood well, allowed few chances, and executed the things we’ve been working on for weeks for the full 90 minutes.“ As a result, for the first time, the new number one in the 2. Bundesliga kept a clean sheet! Reichert said, „I waited for ten games for my first clean sheet. I’m very happy that it finally worked out. Keeping a clean sheet also means either allowing few chances or defending everything.“
And that’s what they aim to achieve against bottom-of-the-table Regensburg (only one goal in nine games).
The spectacular Derby win against Fürth (4-0) has left not only shining winners at the club. Even though coach Miroslav Klose (46) tried to credit everyone in the squad for the triumphant success, some players were left out. Klose said, „Players who stayed at home, like Kanji Okunuki, like Taylan Duman. I want to mention them as well because they trained with us all week. And as a coach, it’s difficult for me to make a decision.“
However, the emotional game passed by some of them. Duman and Okunuki are not the only concerns. Striker Janni Serra (26) did not make the matchday squad again due to an injury and is still struggling to catch up at FCN. The situation is not much better for Michal Sevcik (22) currently. The Czech played for the U23 instead of the Ronhof the day before, losing 1-3 against Türkgücü München.
Florian Flick (24) at least sat on the bench for the Derby but only played for a minute. He is currently far from his role as a midfield leader.
The victory against Fürth has raised hopes and expectations for the upcoming games, with Reichert’s clean sheet serving as a morale boost for the team. As they prepare to face Regensburg, the players who didn’t participate in the Derby will be looking to make their mark and contribute to the team’s success. Klose’s challenge will be to manage the squad effectively and make tough decisions to ensure the team remains competitive throughout the season. With every game presenting new challenges and opportunities, FCN will need to maintain their focus and determination to achieve their goals.