Rothosen raring to go in Fürth after prolonged lay-off

Opposition scouting report

The holder of Germany’s coveted ‘Fußball-Lehrer’ management qualification has also been using the summer to work on his team’s tactical flexibility, having used a 4-3-1-2 in the first home fixture of the season against Osnabrück, before utilising a 3-4-1-2 in the two following away games. Whether these are different set-ups for home and away games or adapted to the opponent remains to be seen after only three games of the new season. In his pre-match press conference, Leitl indicated that they may go into the game with a similar mentality to an away fixture: “We’re the outsider in this game and have nothing to lose, these are bonus games for us.”

Leitl has also been able to significantly reduce the age of his starting eleven over the summer, the back three in Würzburg comprising two 20-year-olds (Maximilian Bauer and Abdourahmane Barry) and a 22-year-old (Paul Jaeckel). 19-year-old forward Jamie Leweling is also one of Greuther Fürth’s prized, young assets, making the breakthrough into the first team last season and displaying the attributes at his disposal by bursting past Würzburg defender Frank Ronstadt to lay the first goal on for fellow striker Branimir Hrgota before the international break. Hrgota himself has assumed more responsibility this season, taking on the captain’s armband and picking the ball up in deeper positions to drive his team forward, aiming to make the most of his talent during his second full season in Franconia having contributed towards 14 goals in 2019/20. The international break came at the right time for the Shamrocks, with no notable injuries going into Saturday’s game, in sharp contrast to the Rothosen, and will aim to press high from the off.

Daniel Thioune on Fürth: "In the first few games you could see Leitl wants his team to play short, passing football. They hold a high line and expend a lot of energy pressing high up the pitch. They're a challenge for every team in the 2. Liga."