Even before the 272nd Franconian derby, 1. FC Nürnberg and SpVgg Greuther Fürth are at operating temperature. "It's something cool, something special," said Nuremberg coach Cristian Fiel ahead of the emotional clash between the two Bundesliga 2 neighbors on Sunday (1.30pm/Sky) at their local rivals.
The Fürth side took a while to get up to temperature. "With all the circumstances surrounding it, it took us a little while to really get up to derby temperature in training," admitted Fürth coach Alexander Zorniger on Friday, but then stated: "The lads are there now - that's the most important thing."
Franconian derby without fan protest?
Fürth have recently had to cope with three narrow defeats in a row. The fan protest against the DFL investor deal, which has since been scrapped, threw the Franconians off track, especially in the 2-1 defeat to Hannover 96 on Friday a week ago.
"I'm glad to God that there's a chance that a game can be played at the weekend with normal breaks, which are football-specific. I think that would be great," said Zorniger. His players had previously been "unhappy".
