Thioune and Hoffmann's collaboration - Fortuna determines to face relegation head-on.
Fortuna Düsseldorf has won 13 matches in the second division without defeat, but still failed to make it directly back to the Bundesliga. Encouragement persists on the Rhine!
Despite the penalty issue with referee Sven Jabonlski (34) at 1:1 in Kiel, which led to a draw, Fortuna sends their congratulations to the North Germans for their promotion. The team now seeks promotion through relegation. St. Pauli became the second club to be directly promoted on Sunday with a 3:1 victory over Osnabrück, while Düsseldorf wrapped up the season in a safe third position.
Head coach Daniel Thioune (49): "Kiel's promotion is well-deserved, even if they're content with the draw against us. It seemed like we would be right at the top."
The relegation play-off is coming up next: The first leg is scheduled for May 23 at 8:30pm at 16th place in the Bundesliga. The second leg will take place on May 27 at Düsseldorf Arena, also at 8:30 pm. Union Berlin is currently in the relegation zone, but Bochum and Mainz could also be relegated. 17th-placed Cologne would need to win their final match against Heidenheim and hope for a three-goal loss by Union vs. Freiburg.
Thioune: "We now have two bonus games, and I'm really thrilled about them. We've earned and deserve that." Captain Andre Hoffmann (31): "We'll do our best to win our last home game." It'll be against Magdeburg (Sunday, 3:30 p.m., Sky).
Hoffmann echoes his coach's sentiments: "Irrespective of who comes, we'll aim to win in our final home game. According to statistics, the odds of a second-tier team surviving relegation are low, but they've already succeeded before."
In 2012, it was against Hertha BSC. Now it might be another Berlin club against Düsseldorf due to Union.
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Source: symclub.org
