Tim Kloss has already had experience with a full Grünwald stadium, even if he had only managed eleven minutes of third division play by Saturday afternoon. But the young man from TSV 1860 Munich was already employed here as a ball boy, which may have helped a little to not only keep calm in a heated game, but also to enjoy the situation.
“Something like that pushes you, that’s why you play football,” said Kloss after the 1-1 draw against 1. FC Saarbrücken. Just as if he wasn’t 19 but 29. He’s been training with the professionals for a long time, “I’m used to the pace,” he says calmly. After all, his first goal in professional football overwhelmed him a little: “The emotions in his body are unbelievable,” he said after his header to make the final score 1-1 (84th minute) against a promotion candidate.
It’s the end of April, but the future is still uncertain for many players, many contracts are expiring, the club is in a bad negotiating position because everyone knows: there isn’t a lot of money. On Saturday, however, the fans were given an unexpected outlook on what the future could look like – in the form of a new match winner.
Left-back Leroy Kwadwo saw red in the first half
Because the 1.90 meter tall Kloss not only scored the goal quite cleverly when he positioned himself at the back post for a corner because he knew that the cross would come there. He was also thrown into the game when he was behind, in sleet, when tempers were agitated and when he was outnumbered, and not even in his usual position, at six, but as a central defender. “I’m extremely happy for Tim,” said Marlon Frey about the young goalscorer: “He’s fought his way into the team in the last few weeks.” And even if coach Argirios Giannikis wouldn’t say it like that, Kloss’ substitution was still an emergency solution. Right-back Kilian Ludewig had to be substituted after just 29 minutes after a tough start; coach Giannikis later spoke of a strong suspicion of a metatarsal fracture. Captain and defense chief Jesper Verlaat was in danger of receiving a yellow card early on, and shortly before half-time left-back Leroy Kwadwo saw red for a supposed emergency stop (44′). Kloss came into the game in this situation at the beginning of the second half.
To put it mildly, it was clear at the start of the game that the Sixties no longer had as high goals as the guests from Saarland in the remaining weeks until the end of the season. “We often came a step too late. We have to talk about the first half again,” said midfielder Julian Guttau. The Saarbrücken team appeared to be a bit more aggressive and alert in crucial situations, including the early lead: central defender Michael Glück lost the ball near the center circle, and on the subsequent counterattack the pass to Saarbrücken’s attacker Kai Brünker came perfectly into the back of Tim Rieder, who was rushing back that he slipped. Verlaat followed Rieder’s example and Brünker slotted in without any problems (9′).
The increasing dissatisfaction in the stands with the home team’s game was also felt by referee Fabienne Michel, who, on the one hand, did not suspect that Kilian Ludewig would get in, but on the other hand, after a short hesitation, showed red against Kwadwo. But regardless of whether the decision was too harsh or not: Sixty got themselves into dangerous situations against Saarbrücken with negligent defensive work.
Fynn Lakenmacher, who is moving to Darmstadt, can also play for 20 minutes
“We weren’t that agile in the duels in the first half,” said Frey, “but at halftime we swore to ourselves that we would show morale.” When the lion was grabbed for the honor, things went better. The improvised defense kept Saarbrücken’s attack away from the goal, and after a short period of pressure from the guests immediately after the restart, not much happened. In attack, Fynn Lakenmacher was allowed to play again for 20 minutes; the attacker had announced his departure to Darmstadt 98 during the week. He was warmly welcomed by the fans. “We would have liked to continue working with him,” said Giannikis. The personnel underlines the personnel concerns that Sixty still has with a view to the coming season.
It is all the more important that a player from your own youth lets you forget your current worries for a moment. Giannikis also praised Kloss as “a very promising player,” adding that the 19-year-old also has a “great left foot.” Frank Schmöller also said that Kloss was a “tactically very disciplined player”. However, Kloss wasn’t used much in Schmöller’s U21 because “he developed quite quickly,” said the 57-year-old. Now it’s about staying on the carpet and continuing to develop in the same direction.
On Friday, Schmöller announced that he was leaving at the end of the season after five years at 1860 Munich and that he would now take a break – and see what life outside of football had in store. The club probably cannot afford expensive players. This means that several of the players that Schmöller developed for the club, among others, could get their opportunities with the professionals.