Energie Cottbus ahead of kickoff: Training in the football hall - Energie Cottbus faces 1. FC Saarbrücken with injuries and disrupted training
Energie Cottbus leads the 3. Liga autumn table as the 2025/26 season resumes this weekend. The team faces challenges ahead of their match against 1. FC Saarbrücken, with injuries and tough training conditions affecting preparations. Head coach Claus-Dieter Wollitz remains cautious about promotion but urges his players to play without pressure.
The club’s preparations have been far from ideal. Heavy rain forced the squad to train on a waterlogged pitch, while their opponents, 1. FC Saarbrücken, enjoyed warmer conditions in Spain. To adapt, Energie Cottbus will now use the DFB’s indoor football hall in Frankfurt before the game.
Injuries have also weakened the side. Merveille Biankadi, Jonas Hofmann, and Janis Juckel are all sidelined due to injuries and recent surgeries. Meanwhile, midfielder Elias Bethke has left the club to join Dynamo Dresden. Despite these setbacks, Wollitz remains realistic about the season. He has ruled out promotion but expects the team to hold their current position. His message to the players is clear: approach the match against Saarbrücken with confidence, regardless of their title as autumn champions.
The 3. Liga season restarts for Energie Cottbus on the weekend of January 16–18, 2026, with matchday 20. The team will enter the game without key players and after disrupted training. Their performance will show whether they can maintain their strong autumn form.
