Steelers expect Cologne: Schoofs and McKnight say goodbye – Bietigheim Steelers
“The boys are very ambitious and really want to make the playoffs. But we mustn’t put ourselves under unnecessary pressure, we have to play freely,” says Naud. The 60-year-old coach is proud and satisfied with what we have achieved so far: “It’s amazing what we’ve achieved. Relegating four games before the end of the main round is a bigger achievement than winning the second division championship a year ago.”
However, the recent hammer program seems to have affected the Steelers. The team had to play nine games within 16 days. Friday’s opponents Cologne, on the other hand, had a ten-day break and last played in Augsburg on March 22 (2-1 win after extra time). “It can be an advantage for the sharks that they are rested. But we have the advantage of being in rhythm,” says Naud. After the two intense duels in Ingolstadt, there are some battered players in the Bietigheimer camp. Valentin Busch, who had to watch as an extra striker in the past matches, could celebrate a comeback. Tom McCollum or Sami Aittokallio will keep the goal at short notice.
number to the game
Two of the three season duels the Steelers won against Cologne 4:3. The decision was only made in a penalty shootout. The third game goes to the Haie 7:3.