"They didn't have to score five goals": Jena's new strength lies in defense
Carl Zeiss Jena can look back on a strong start to the season, seemingly taking a leaf out of last year's champions Lok Leipzig's book. The schedule now takes the Zeiss team to Meuselwitz, a challenging match.
Only had to reach behind him three times in the first seven games: Jena's goalkeeper Marius Liesegang IMAGO/Picture Point
FC Carl Zeiss Jena is in a position to challenge for the top spot in the Regionalliga Nordost. The Thuringian club has had a strong start to the season, losing only once. This is primarily due to Jena's newfound strength: The Zeiss team has not conceded a goal in six matches across all competitions, and in league matches, 360 minutes.
Head coach Volkan Uluc (55) deliberately placed a strong focus on defense at the start of preseason training in June. Although Jena scored the most goals last season with 71, the Zeiss team quickly found itself out of the running for the title because Jena's goalkeepers had to save 45 times. "You could see that Lok Leipzig always won their games 1-0. They didn't have to score five goals because they conceded four," explains goalkeeper Marius Liesegang , and his team knows: Championships are decided by defense. "That's how you become champions – and we're currently doing it well," says the starting goalkeeper.
Of course, he alone isn't responsible for FC Carl Zeiss having only conceded three goals this season. "It's our work against the ball; that's the focus of the entire team and the coaches," he says. And that's the only way to do it, the only way to be successful on the pitch and achieve our goals.
The next challenge is a special one. On Sunday, FCC travels to Meuselwitz for a Thuringian clash. Liesegang: "It's always unpleasant to play there. Now we're going there with our heads held high, with something to make up for." Last season, Uluc made his debut as Jena coach right there on the Glaserkuppe, but was immediately eliminated from the state cup.
Motivated ex-Jena residentsAnd after the latest blunders by their rivals, Halle lost 3-0 in Chemnitz, they can close the gap to the new league leaders Rot-Weiß Erfurt. However, Zeiss coach Uluc warns against their rivals from East Thuringia: "In games against Meuselwitz, the starting position on paper doesn't matter, regardless of their form, or how they started. Those are duels in their own right," he says. ZFC boasts several former Jena players who are always particularly motivated when playing against their old club – especially ZFC captain René Eckardt , who scored in the last two matches against Jena. "We're aware of that, of course, and we're keeping an eye on it beforehand," Uluc announces.
He doesn't want to hear anything more about the cup defeat in the spring. "We've already won the cup in Meuselwitz, so it doesn't matter to me. We're going there to write a new, positive story, to win there," he explains. And, of course, the focus is again on keeping a clean sheet. "That includes a good pressing game, especially in Meuselwitz," emphasizes the Zeiss coach. His players know this and are traveling to Meuselwitz well prepared.
