Hannover 96 vs Hoffenheim preview - No fear for Frontzeck

Posted Friday, April 24, 2015 by PA

New Hannover coach Michael Frontzeck says he fears only a pack of wolves as he prepares to sit on the Lower Saxony club's bench for the first time this Saturday.

The former Borussia Monchengladbach and Arminia Bielefeld coach was appointed as a replacement for Tayfun Korkut as the Reds' search for a first win of 2015 continued last weekend.

He has been tasked with saving the club from relegation, and the 51-year-old cannot wait to get started, saying the challenge does not daunt him.

"All that scares me are illnesses, or being faced with a pack of wolves when I'm running through the woods," he told the Bild newspaper.

"In football, fear should never play a role. If you've got that, then you've already lost.

"A healthy tension is fine, though."

Hannover fans have plenty of tension with their side sliding towards the Bundesliga trapdoor, without a win in 13 games.

That is why Frontzeck was appointed as he has already kept sides up in similar circumstances, even if his long-term record as a coach is not so impressive, with an average of just one win in each five Bundesliga games.

"You've always got to look at the circumstances and what conditions I was working in," Frontzeck said.

"When I was at Aachen, we were in the running all the time, but then we went down with 34 points.

"I saved Bielefeld and was then sacked after the 33th game of the following season when we were in 16th place.

"And in Gladbach, we stayed up easily."

Two points currently separate Hannover from the relegation zone with five games of the season remaining and there would be no better time for them to end their long winless run, although their guests Hoffenheim also need the points to stay in the running for a place in Europe next season.

"We've never had any relegation fears this season and we've established ourselves in the top half of the table, so from now on we can ensure positive moments and headlines," said their coach Markus Gisdol.

"The team's doing everything they can to cross a hurdle we've always fallen short of in the past."

Andreas Beck and Kevin Volland are both suspended while there are doubts about Anthony Modeste, Sebastian Rudy and Sejad Salihovic.

Frontzeck is likely to make changes to the Hannover side for his first game in charge with Hiroki Sakai and Ceyhun Gulselam both ruled out due to suspension.