TSV 1860 Munich are aiming to continue their winning streak against a weakening SC Verl. The East Westphalians have conceded nine goals in three defeats ahead of their clash with the "Lions" on Saturday (4.30pm). "We know where their strengths and weaknesses lie. We have to bring that to life on the pitch," said coach Argirios Giannikis. Munich are unbeaten under him and this year, with three wins in a row recently.
Giannikis will have to make do without Abdenego Nankishi (recovery training), Manfred Starke (lumbago) and goalkeeper David Richter (flu) ahead of his 13th-placed team's match at Verlern, who are one place higher. Three or four other players still have cold symptoms, said the 43-year-old at the press conference on Friday, "but they look fine." Dutchman Joel Zwarts may return to the squad.
The 1860 coach does not attach any great importance to Verl's recent period of weakness. "Verl are a team that play very intense soccer for their opponents," said Giannikis. "It will be a close game." Recently, the opponent has sometimes lacked timing.
The eight-hour bus journey to Verl will also demand a lot of patience from the "Lions". "It is what it is. The journey is long. It was clear to us beforehand that we would have this away trip and that we would be traveling by bus. That's okay," said Giannikis.
He himself revealed his program for the extensive time on the freeway: opponent analysis, going through match plans, watching the presentation. "And then, on such a long bus journey, there will also be time to relax and maybe read a book," said the 43-year-old. Crime thrillers, novels or books on personal development. "Anything and everything - I'm very interested."
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