A proven soccer worker is to save FC Erzgebirge Aue from falling into insignificance. After a one-year break, Christoph Dabrowski is taking on the ambitious coaching position at the relegation-threatened third division club with a lot of energy. Although only one point separates the Veilchen from a non-relegation place, the total uncertainty within the team and the visible negativity in the body language do not make the task of Jens Härtel's successor easy.
"I had already spoken to Jens directly after the Havelse game on Friday evening and told him that I no longer had any arguments for his continued employment. He fully understood that," said sporting director Michael Tarnat during Dabrowski's presentation. On the way back after the 3-1 defeat, he made many phone calls, including to Dabrowski. "He was my only candidate, we worked together for five years," emphasized the sporting director. He knows how the 47-year-old works, how he brings young and older players together. That is very important in the current situation.
Longer collaboration possible
Dabrowski arrived in Aue on Saturday evening and the collaboration was sealed on Sunday afternoon - 30 hours after the first contact was made. Aue president Thomas Schlesinger said that the financial aspects of the contract, which is set to be long-term following the club's successful mission to stay in the league, were only discussed at a very late stage.
Dabrowski was coach at Aue's league rivals Rot Weiss Essen until 2024 and had twice led the promoted side to relegation. The new coach and Aue's sporting director Michael Tarnat, who has been in charge since the start of the year, know each other from their time together at Hannover 96, where they played together as players.
Dabrowski calls for: Join forces
"The goal is clear: We have to join forces to keep the club and the region in the league in the 16 remaining games," said the coach. Above all, the team now needs positive energy. Dabrowski believes that a coach coming from outside has the opportunity to bring in positivity.
"The foundation for success is unity and working together," said Dabrowski. He is someone who seeks contact through communication, but who also relies on a certain hierarchy within the team. "It's all about stability now. The vulnerability to set pieces must be reduced, the basics in defense must be regained. The potential is there in offense, what's missing is self-confidence," said Dabrowski.
No player candidates wanted to come to Aue
He is carrying out the work together with the existing staff. He had already worked with assistant coach Lars Fuchs in Hanover. However, he does not have any new players at his disposal. "We wanted to bring in a few more, but all we got were rejections," said Tarnat. That's why the team and all the players were committed to putting their trust in the team. "It's undoubtedly a talented team," said Tarnat.
After the last two defeats against direct rivals in the relegation battle, the aim now is to turn things around on Saturday against 1. FC Saarbrücken - another team in the basement. With which players and which system we will see.
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