Kickers Offenbach's defensive collapse sparks crisis after 4-3 loss
Afterwards, players and coaches of Kickers Offenbach had to endure harsh words ('We've had enough of this'). The large number of OFC fans who traveled to the nearby Sandhausen stadium did not want to accept this latest defeat, **the 3:4 loss in the highly anticipated match on Friday evening**, without a fight. Things are going too badly, and they've been going badly for too long at Kickers. The hopes of promotion have already faded after just nine games in the Regionalliga Südwest. Instead, there's pure frustration. Coach Kristjan Glibo could understand this frustration immediately after the game. Such a defeat is painful, of course, also for the fans, 'for that we apologize'. However, Glibo showed less understanding for his team, which he did not spare after the fourth consecutive game without a win. The defeat was 'careless' and 'totally unnecessary', with some players appearing 'disoriented', especially in defense. The Offenbachers conceded goals that are rarely seen at this level. Time and again, the Sandhausen strikers were left unmarked in the middle during crosses. The OFC defenders wandered around and looked surprisingly surprised as the balls predictably bounced in the net. 'We need to control our box, that's what's breaking our neck right now,' analyzed coach Glibo, who seemed at a loss as to how improvement could be achieved in the future. 'That's not how it should be,' said OFC captain Marc Wachs, who named the defeat after a 3:1 lead as pure 'self-inflicted'. The team had carelessly handled the half-time lead, 'that's not how it should be, we all have to question ourselves.' Wachs, who had provided some stability in the Offenbach game during his comeback after a five-week injury break in the first half, had to leave the field again after 40 minutes due to a re-injury in his thigh. 'It's simply frustrating,' said the 30-year-old. After Wachs left the field, the OFC scored two more goals, but then fell apart in the second half. Stability and attacking power were suddenly lacking, and nothing seemed to work anymore. 'When Marc is on the pitch, our game is different,' Glibo also pointed out the obvious, but the 'breakdown' should not happen. Nine games, eleven points, and already 16 points behind the leader, the relegation zone is also getting closer. The crisis is almost complete. No question, the OFC is under pressure, the team is under pressure, coach Glibo is too, and so is sports director Christian Hock, who is blamed by many fans for the situation. The summer separation from coach Christian Neidhart, despite finishing second in the previous season, is often cited as the main criticism. Additionally, a failed transfer policy, Hock is said to have taken too much risk in hoping for the return of injured key players. The case of Wachs does not serve as an argument for him. According to the Offenbach Post, there was already a crisis meeting over the weekend. So, when Kickers play at home against SG Barockstadt Fulda-Lehnerz on Tuesday (7 pm), a lot is at stake. The long-ago-promotion goal is no longer the top priority. Perhaps this game is even the last chance for coach Glibo. And what would happen to Hock in the event of another setback? In any case, the Offenbach crisis has sharpened even further after the crisis peak. Criticism is one thing, hate messages are quite another. OFC squad planner Christian Hock received the latter on social media and made some of the messages public on Instagram. One user suggested that Hock 'f**k off' from Offenbach 'before it gets uncomfortable'. If Hock doesn't leave voluntarily, he 'will be hunted', the supposed OFC fan threatened.
