Marcus Mann, the Head of Sport at Hannover 96, is feeling the heat after four consecutive games without a win and just three points gained since the derby treble against Braunschweig. The 39-year-old can't shake the frustration, especially since his team has failed to keep pace with the top spots, now eight points behind second place.
The "still pissed off" Marcus Mann is particularly annoyed by the trend of falling behind 2-0 in their last two home games against Hertha and KSC. Despite commendable comebacks, he wonders why this keeps happening. In both matches, Hannover 96 was outplayed in the initial stages, eventually conceding a goal, then countered when they were already trailing.
Mann is not happy with the team's execution, and he's had enough of explanations about why things haven't been working out. He wants solutions, not excuses. In the last two games away from home, Hannover 96 didn't score a goal. They managed a scoreless draw against St. Pauli, but the team of coach Stefan Leitl (46) struggled against Paderborn, earning their third yellow card in 20 minutes.
As the year comes to a close, Mann is unlikely to be in a better mood next Monday when Hannover 96 faces Kiel. The opponents are on a roll, having picked up twelve points in their last four games and challenging for second place.
Enrichment Insights:
To understand Hannover 96's away-match struggles, it's crucial to assess their performance in several aspects, including goals conceded, clean sheets, and set-piece situations.
- Goals Concession: Hannover 96 allows an average of 0.44 goals in the first half and 0.78 goals in the second half when playing away. This high-concession rate in both halves could contribute to falling behind early in matches.
- Clean Sheets: Hannover 96 achieves clean sheets in the first half at a rate of 67% at home but only 33% away. This suggests a higher likelihood of conceding goals in the second half when playing away.
- Goals Conceded in Both Halves: Hannover 96 concedes 7 goals in the first half and 12 goals in the second half when playing away. This consistent issue with defending over the full 90 minutes might be a contributing factor to falling behind early in matches.
To address these issues, Hannover 96 can consider improving their defensive strategy, focusing on midfield control, enhancing goalkeeper distribution, and improving team cohesion. Additionally, tactical adjustments and addressing individual mistakes can help the team improve their execution and reduce the likelihood of falling behind early in away matches.
