As of: March 29, 2024, 8:14 p.m
By: Uli Kellner
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Niklas Lang currently plays for SC Freiburg II. © IMAGO/Jan Huebner
TSV 1860 Munich is visiting SC Freiburg II in the 3rd league. Two Lions talents could also play minutes on defense.
Munich – How do you form a defensive chain when only three of four fixed sizes remain? Argirios Giannikis dealt with this question during the international break. “Every squad gets an issue when three central defenders are out at the same time,” says the Lions coach. Talents like Sean Dujic (18) and Tim Kloss (19) suddenly appeared in internal considerations.
Max Reinthaler and Michael Glück are missing from TSV 1860 Munich
Shortly before departure to Breisgau, one or two emergency plans may have ended up in the trash. The reason: Captain Jesper Verlaat, who had recently suffered a muscle injury, was suddenly back on the training pitch - and was supposed to get on the bus with him on Friday. Giannikis only has to replace two defensive greats: new signing Max Reinthaler (knee) and Michael Glück (yellow suspension). Things got even better: Striker Joel Zwarts, the other Dutch problem child, also reported fit for duty for the game against bottom club Freiburg II (Saturday, 4.30 p.m.).
But the focus there is on a lion who is spending a kind of “semester abroad” in Breisgau - after nine and a half years at 1860. And with a contract that his training club only extended before the season (until 2026). Niklas Lang (21) was declared (temporarily) dispensable by new sports director Christian Werner in January - surprising not only for the fans, but also for the player himself.
“It was about the working hours he wanted – and about further development. The performances he shows in Freiburg are promising.”
Argirios Giannikis, coach of TSV 1860, about Niklas Lang.
Freiburg gratefully accepted, because all the virtues that the Starnberg native stands for benefit the sports club: fighting spirit, for example, and the will to lead. With the uncompromising Lang as a regular player, Freiburg achieved third division status late, but perhaps not too late. After ten points from the last five games (out of only 20 in total), the bottom of the table has at least regained some hope of staying in the league.
When asked about Lang, Giannikis said on Friday: “It was about the playing times he wanted – and about further development. The performances he is showing in Freiburg are promising.” During the week, the coach also let it be known that he himself was faced with a fait accompli since he was fresh in office: “I was only there for a few days. I can’t decide anything and can’t give any guarantees, that’s logical.”
But: “There is no question that he is a good player.” He is happy about every talent that “goes his way and plays”. And what happens if Lang's path leads back to 1860 in the summer? “Niki is one of our players,” emphasized Giannikis: “He has a contract – and if he comes back stronger than when he left, then in the end everyone will have benefited.”
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On Saturday, the Lions would like to put a damper on their loan deal - and add something to their points account after three unfortunate defeats. “We want to win the game, that’s clear,” said Giannikis, who is aware of the difficulty of the task: “This is not a game with a coffee trip character. You won’t be able to beat Freiburg at half throttle.” (Uli Kellner)