Kohr: “I would prefer to simply carry on playing”

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During the Zerofivers’ last home game against VfL Wolfsburg, Dominik Kohr almost put his side in front on the half hour mark with two dangerous strikes which would have turned the game in his sides’ favour. But unfortunately, VfL goalkeeper Koen Casteels and the inside goalpost hindered those shots respectively, and the visitors went ahead from a corner just a few minutes later. The game was turned on its head and FSV went on to suffer a 3-0 loss – one that they can’t fully blame themselves for. “We actually played a very good game. It’s just that we didn’t have that luck when the chances game to ahead. Then the game would have looked different,” said Kohr, who, like so often this season, worked tirelessly across the 90 minutes in midfield, starting every game except the visit to Munich where he missed out through illness.

Keep going with “full confidence”

There are two key points to note from the Wolfsburg game: “Firstly, that we should have defended the goals we conceded better, except the free-kick which was just unlucky, and secondly that we needed to be putting in better crosses in the final third,” said Kohr looking back on the game. The chances to get the ball in the box were there, but were let down too often by the cross or movement into the box, something that they want to work on in training.

Development is a continuous process. I’m convinced that we’re currently going in the right direction.

The 28-year-old still believes, however, that his side are on the up, and are much better in certain areas than the start of the season, and that their approaches to games now “complete”. The same went against Wolfsburg, whom as an opponent were “actually completely dominated” by Mainz in the first half, not allowing them to relax. “Development is a continuous process. I’m convinced that we’re currently going in the right direction and that we can head into our next games with full confidence,” explained Kohr who was keen to emphasise the positives from the past few weeks. The midfielder also has his own personal reasons for optimism, having scored twice in the league and once in the Pokal so far, looking more dangerous in front of goal than ever. A goal against Wolfsburg would be a “wonderful reward.”

Flexibility a big plus

“We’re always working on finishing in training. I’m aware that my shooting is quite good, but it hadn’t been so effective before,” he stated, satisfied with his performances so far this season. “I think that I’m working well, which is what I had planned prior to the season,” the former Germany youth international commented. He states that plenty of players however are playing at a good level, going on to praise Edi Fernandes and Anthony Caci, who are “doing very well” in their new positions. He adds that the quality of the squad enables rotating players and getting the best out of every individual.

Demonstrate that individual quality against Schalke

Looking ahead to the next Bundesliga game away at Schalke (9th November, 20:30 CET), Kohr expects to have plenty of the ball and knows that it will come down to being able to win second balls, and, having won possession, being able to cleanly create and concert chances. The excitement for the game is “huge” – “Matches under the floodlights are always fantastic. In the evening, the pitch is always a little damp, so the ball moves better, and there’s always a great atmosphere at Schalke.” The midfielder is highly motivated to get all three points from this away day.

Matches under the floodlights are always fantastic. In the evening, the pitch is always a little damp, so the ball moves better, and there’s always a great atmosphere at Schalke.

Schalke will presumably also go into this clash highly motivated too, wanting to take their first points under new head coach Thomas Reis. “The head coach will probably try to translate the style of play they have been working on in training onto the pitch. But it’s also clear that Schalke won’t just come up with a new style of play overnight,” Kohr said on the opponent, but preferring to emphasises his own team’s strengths. “If we showed the quality that we did at the weekend again tomorrow, then I’m convinced we can get all the points,” Kohr added.

Kohr scored to make it 2-0 against Köln.

Looking forward to meeting former club, but all focus on Schalke

Just a few days after the Schalke game, the Zerofivers will face Eintracht Frankfurt at home in their final Bundesliga game of the year (Sunday, 13th November, 15:30 CET). A “special game” for Kohr, the midfielder made 49 competitive appearances for the side between 2019 and 2021. “It does provide a bit of additional motivation. It will also be a special game for Danny da Costa and Aymen Barkok. We’re looking forward to the game, although all our focus is on Wednesday for now,” the 28-year-old explained, wanting to get the best possible outcomes from the final two competitive games of the year. “First, we win away to Schalke and then get another win at home. That’s what we owe to the supporters, especially having been so strong at home last season,” the central midfielder commented on what he wants to see from the final Bundesliga games before the winter break.

Kohr is only somewhat looking forward to the upcoming lengthy winter break, and would indeed prefer to “carry on playing”; because he feels the season “has only just got into full swing. A long interruption like this is new to everyone, and I look forward to seeing how the second half of the season goes, with 19 Bundesliga games instead of 17, as well as the DFB-Pokal still to go,” Kohr explained, who himself is going to use the break to get away. But before there, there are still 180 Bundesliga minutes to be played, in which the Zerofivers want to build as strong a platform as possible which with they can go into the second half of the season.

During the Zerofivers’ last home game against VfL Wolfsburg, Dominik Kohr almost put his side in front on the half hour mark with two dangerous strikes which would have turned the game in his sides’ favour. But unfortunately, VfL goalkeeper Koen Casteels and the inside goalpost hindered those shots respectively, and the visitors went ahead from a corner just a few minutes later. The game was turned on its head and FSV went on to suffer a 3-0 loss – one that they can’t fully blame themselves for. “We actually played a very good game. It’s just that we didn’t have that luck when the chances game to ahead. Then the game would have looked different,” said Kohr, who, like so often this season, worked tirelessly across the 90 minutes in midfield, starting every game except the visit to Munich where he missed out through illness.

Keep going with “full confidence”

There are two key points to note from the Wolfsburg game: “Firstly, that we should have defended the goals we conceded better, except the free-kick which was just unlucky, and secondly that we needed to be putting in better crosses in the final third,” said Kohr looking back on the game. The chances to get the ball in the box were there, but were let down too often by the cross or movement into the box, something that they want to work on in training.

Development is a continuous process. I’m convinced that we’re currently going in the right direction.

The 28-year-old still believes, however, that his side are on the up, and are much better in certain areas than the start of the season, and that their approaches to games now “complete”. The same went against Wolfsburg, whom as an opponent were “actually completely dominated” by Mainz in the first half, not allowing them to relax. “Development is a continuous process. I’m convinced that we’re currently going in the right direction and that we can head into our next games with full confidence,” explained Kohr who was keen to emphasise the positives from the past few weeks. The midfielder also has his own personal reasons for optimism, having scored twice in the league and once in the Pokal so far, looking more dangerous in front of goal than ever. A goal against Wolfsburg would be a “wonderful reward.”

Flexibility a big plus

“We’re always working on finishing in training. I’m aware that my shooting is quite good, but it hadn’t been so effective before,” he stated, satisfied with his performances so far this season. “I think that I’m working well, which is what I had planned prior to the season,” the former Germany youth international commented. He states that plenty of players however are playing at a good level, going on to praise Edi Fernandes and Anthony Caci, who are “doing very well” in their new positions. He adds that the quality of the squad enables rotating players and getting the best out of every individual.

Demonstrate that individual quality against Schalke

Looking ahead to the next Bundesliga game away at Schalke (9th November, 20:30 CET), Kohr expects to have plenty of the ball and knows that it will come down to being able to win second balls, and, having won possession, being able to cleanly create and concert chances. The excitement for the game is “huge” – “Matches under the floodlights are always fantastic. In the evening, the pitch is always a little damp, so the ball moves better, and there’s always a great atmosphere at Schalke.” The midfielder is highly motivated to get all three points from this away day.

Matches under the floodlights are always fantastic. In the evening, the pitch is always a little damp, so the ball moves better, and there’s always a great atmosphere at Schalke.

Schalke will presumably also go into this clash highly motivated too, wanting to take their first points under new head coach Thomas Reis. “The head coach will probably try to translate the style of play they have been working on in training onto the pitch. But it’s also clear that Schalke won’t just come up with a new style of play overnight,” Kohr said on the opponent, but preferring to emphasises his own team’s strengths. “If we showed the quality that we did at the weekend again tomorrow, then I’m convinced we can get all the points,” Kohr added.

Looking forward to meeting former club, but all focus on Schalke

Just a few days after the Schalke game, the Zerofivers will face Eintracht Frankfurt at home in their final Bundesliga game of the year (Sunday, 13th November, 15:30 CET). A “special game” for Kohr, the midfielder made 49 competitive appearances for the side between 2019 and 2021. “It does provide a bit of additional motivation. It will also be a special game for Danny da Costa and Aymen Barkok. We’re looking forward to the game, although all our focus is on Wednesday for now,” the 28-year-old explained, wanting to get the best possible outcomes from the final two competitive games of the year. “First, we win away to Schalke and then get another win at home. That’s what we owe to the supporters, especially having been so strong at home last season,” the central midfielder commented on what he wants to see from the final Bundesliga games before the winter break.

Kohr is only somewhat looking forward to the upcoming lengthy winter break, and would indeed prefer to “carry on playing”; because he feels the season “has only just got into full swing. A long interruption like this is new to everyone, and I look forward to seeing how the second half of the season goes, with 19 Bundesliga games instead of 17, as well as the DFB-Pokal still to go,” Kohr explained, who himself is going to use the break to get away. But before there, there are still 180 Bundesliga minutes to be played, in which the Zerofivers want to build as strong a platform as possible which with they can go into the second half of the season.

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