Attacker Luca Pfeiffer is an example of the Würzburg Kickers’ pursuit since the winter break: he is livelier, more athletic and more dangerous.
In the meantime, a little word has gotten around this team. At the beginning of the season, shortly after the major upheaval, people still had to use the shirt numbers to identify the players of the Würzburg Kickers. They now know that the young guy in the back is called Vincent Müller, that the little one with the curly head is named Patrick Sontheimer, and they also know that the tall guy is Luca Pfeiffer.
Pfeiffer, 23, has made a name for himself because he exemplifies the catch-up hunt that Würzburg made after the winter break. After the preliminary round, the Kickers were still in twelfth place, in the second half they only lost two games. Now, after the 3-1 victory over Hansa Rostock, the seventh win in the ninth game since the restart, the kickers are at least almost relegated. With five points ahead of MSV Duisburg and only two games left, it is hard to imagine that Würzburg can still be overtaken. The climb would be the culmination of an impressive development that the team has taken this season. The ascent would also be Pfeiffer’s work.
Pfeiffer is livelier than in the preliminary round, more athletic – and more dangerous in the penalty area
14 goals and seven assists: this is his season balance so far. They are numbers that show two things. On the one hand, they prove what qualities Pfeiffer has in the opposing penalty area, on the other hand, they make it clear that Pfeiffer is not just a striker in the penalty area. He is busy – and he has the technical ability to serve a teammate.
On Saturday afternoon, all the skills that distinguish Pfeiffer could be seen bundled. The first goal was a testament to his instinct, it documented Pfeiffer’s core competence: predicting the passing, starting at the right moment, being in the right place at the right time and then putting the ball in the net. The 3-0, Pfeiffer’s second goal, illustrated how smoothly 1.96 meters can be staged. When Pfeiffer came to the ball in the penalty area, he remained calm, hesitated, hit a hook and then deliberately pushed in.
In any case, Pfeiffer’s appearance showed the progress he had made in the past few months. Pfeiffer is more lively than in the preliminary round, he is more athletic, he is even more dangerous in the opposing penalty area. All of this has to do primarily with his fitness. “He noticed that Dominic Baumann and Maxi Breunig are fit again, then we brought Saliou Sané – he knew he had to do more,” explains Michael Schiele.
In the absence of alternatives, Würzburg’s coach in the preliminary round had little choice but to put the tall one at the front. Schiele now offers several options; because Pfeiffer did more, he is now as valuable as it has been for a long time.
In the meantime, Pfeiffer can also be imagined in a team that will play against Hamburger SV and Hannover 96 next year – and no longer against Viktoria Köln and Halleschen FC, those teams against Würzburg the last step on the remaining two matchdays can go.
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