This phenomenon is not easy to explain psychologically: 1,200 fans of TSV 1860 Munich traveled to Duisburg to support the team. The last away win was almost five months ago, the mood in the club is not just in the basement, it is moving towards the core of the earth. Nevertheless, the away block at MSV is full again, and next time too: 1,600 Löwen fans have already announced their attendance for the guest game against Erzgebirge Aue in a week. This could be taken as unconditional support.
But then, after the final whistle, these fans are in the block, the disappointed players sneaking up on them with their heads hanging down and they yell, “We’ve had enough.” And next week they might be fed up again. One who travels to all away games says that “the feeling of having to remain faithful now” is what drives many. But the whole thing hasn’t been fun for a long time.
On Thursday, the new coach Maurizio Jacobacci was asked whether the team should also consult a psychologist. “Of course it couldn’t hurt if he’s good,” the 60-year-old replied. It would do even less harm to consult one after the course of the game in Duisburg: After leading 2-0, the Löwen didn’t manage to win this time either, as they did a month ago in Oldenburg – the score was 2-2 (0-0). it in the end. The phrase, recently used by attacker Marcel Bär, that “someone just has to fall in” again to get security into the game, can no longer be used. After the game, Jacobacci saw a good start in the game, and he “can’t blame the team for fighting anyway. But that’s also a duty.”
The fact that the team simply can no longer win has many consequences. First of all, the topic of promotion will soon be finally over, on Saturday the distance to the relegation place has increased to ten points. Of course, there are fewer and fewer places in the relegation zone (there were twelve on Saturday evening). Secondly: Even if the performances of the past few weeks were often suitable for being fed up, the greatest hope was still on a sporting success to finally get some peace back into the deeply divided club. The loud disappointment that broke out in the guest block this time can perhaps also be understood in this way: just be happy about something for a moment instead of wallowing in an argument for months, not even that works.
Rest is also Maurizio Jacobacci’s declared remedy. Maybe he even shows a little too much calmness. Because the coach showed no enthusiasm when his match plan seemed to work: Joseph Boyamba scored the surprising lead for the sixties (61st) after a big MSV chance, after the team had previously concentrated on defending. Jacobacci stood there on the edge of the page and made a note in a small pad. The goal scorer celebrated the 1:0 with a flick flack, then ran towards the coach. There was a brief hug, then Boyamba pushed the coach away from him with an angry face. It almost seemed like an invitation to please be a little more happy.
Raphael Holzhauser was on the bench, as was attacker Marcel Bär
Boyamba should have been grateful for his starting eleven. Under the interim coach and managing director Günther Gorenzel, the 26-year-old winger was hardly considered. Jacobacci had lived up to his announcement a bit and rebuilt the eleven without considering big names: Raphael Holzhauser was on the bench, as was attacker Marcel Bär, who, however, came on after the 1-0. “I want to take the cello out of the line of fire,” Jacobacci said before the game at Magentasport, then he would “be able to perform again.”
The plan didn’t work out, but the 2-0 came anyway, but it was scored by Tobias Fleckstein (72nd) from Duisburg after vigorous preliminary work by Christopher Lannert on the right attacking side. At this point there was already bad news for the sixty coach: Yannick Deichmann had to leave the field injured in the 67th minute. Jacobacci had often described him as an important leader during his twelve days in office.
“We missed bringing calm into the game and avoiding our own mistakes,” said Jacobacci then about what happened afterwards. Semi Belkahia, who was already very insecure that day, shot Julian Hettwer as he was building up the game, the 19-year-old easily sprinted past Belkahia with the ball, rounded goalkeeper Marco Hiller and scored to make it 1:2 (77th). Three minutes later, Alaa Bakir scored the acclaimed equalizer with a deflected shot. The lions’ snouts were full.
And no matter how numerous the support abroad may be: for the duel on Tuesday evening against leaders SV Elversberg, in the first half of the season still the absolute top game, tickets were still available until the very end.
