More Passion, More Energie

Rookie manager Seb Meyer was appointed FC Energie Cottbus Head Coach this Summer

""He's like a mini-Klopp, he's trying too hard"

"I don't set targets for this team - why would I want to put limitations on what this club can achieve?" says Sebastien Meyer, speaking to me at Stadion der Freundschaft following a pleasant if vague and non-committal first meeting between the manager and his new players. Whether these are words of substance or empty rhetoric will be determined - as always - by results. These are the kind of statements that are lapped up by supporters when the wins are racking up, but can quickly become a stick to be beaten with when things aren't going your way.

I've been given access all areas as we follow FC Energie Cottbus upon their return to the third tier of German football. We'll be covering their progress through pre-season and we'll have exclusive behind-the-scenes access as they navigate the first few fixtures of the new campaign.

For the last decade, Energie has languished outside of the top two divisions and in an attempt to get things moving in the right direction the club hierarchy turned to a 34 year-old from Berlin with no previous management experience.

It's an appointment met with confusion by many of the clubs supporters, who now find themselves questioning the ambition of the club. A common opinion is that a more experienced Head Coach would have been better suited, especially given the lack of Director of Football or Sporting Director leading the strategic decision-making at board level.

Energie fans are left uninspired by the appointment of rookie Head Coach Sebastien Meyer

The expectation from within the club is that Energie attempt to avoid relegation, and the consensus among local media is that this season will be an ultimately unsuccessful uphill battle. Bookmakers have Energie has rank outsiders to win the title, and favourites to be relegated. Meyer doesn't see it that way.

"There's so much potential here, just look around yourselves, it's everywhere!" Meyer barks enthusiastically during his first press conference. You can't help but admire the optimism, but not everyone in the room is convinced.

"I've seen this one before. A young coach who has done well in youth football gets a first-team job, can't cope with the demands and is gone within 6 months. We see it every year." one journalist says following the new coaches first press conference.

"He's like a mini-Klopp, he's trying too hard." says another. And he might have a point. Beyond the spectacles/baseball cap combo and effusive nature, Meyer shares a similar penchant for the high-energy style of football that Klopp's Dortmund and Liverpool sides came to be famous for.

"Of course, Jurgen is an inspiration for so many young coaches - not just here in Germany." Meyer says, failing to conceal his delight at being mentioned in the same breath as Klopp. "I share a similar idea of how I want my teams to play, but I'm not a copycat - I'm my own man." he adds.

__________________________________________________________________________________

"Pre-season is not always fun, but we do it for a reason"

On the morning the team was due to depart for their training camp on the outskirts of Berlin, five senior first team players informed their manager they were keen to explore their options when their contract expire at the end of the season. You could understand if the rookie coach was rocked by this setback but, if he was, he wasn't showing it. "Nothing is decided, staying is still an option for them." he declared cheerily when quizzed by a local journalist.

It's another blow for Meyer as he walks the treacherous path of a first-time manager. The first challenge came in the form of a transfer embargo, the news breaking within days of his appointment. "We already have a squad in place, so it's not as big a problem as it could have been." Meyer suggests. "The squad is balanced and we have a good blend of youth and experience. Of course, you'd prefer to add your own players and put your own stamp on the squad but that will come in time."

But time is in short supply for first-time managers. Meyer also has a relatively short turnaround to get his players ready for the new season. "From the first day of pre-season to the first matchday is less than three weeks - that is not really enough time. But we have a plan in place to put ourselves in the best possible position to start the season strongly."

The days that follow see the team really put through their paces in the scorching heat in East Germany. Meyer is demanding, and the training is intense. His information is clear and concise, and the players appear to be responding well to his sessions. However, ability on the training pitch does not always translate into results when the real games begin.

Energie Cottbus players are put through their paces in Berlin

The energy-sapping sessions are designed to prepare the players for what will be a long, gruelling season. "The hard work we do now will help us during the season" says full-back Henry Rorig, speaking like a man who thinks his new manager might be within earshot. "Pre-season is not always fun, but we do it for a reason."

"If we want to be a team that can run, press and counter then we have to be fit." says Jonas Hildebrandt, Energie's 27 year-old Assistant Manager. "That is how we want to be, so that is how we have to train. Pre-season is where you can build that fitness, hone those principles and give the players that tactical understanding."

The coaching staff are singing from the same hymn sheet, at least.

__________________________________________________________________________________

"We have to block out the noise"

Sebastien Meyer takes charge of his first pre-season game, a 2-0 victory over semi-professional side Tasmania Berlin. This is followed up days later by a 5-0 victory over local amateur side, Inter Berlin. The final test, this time against Berliner AK (another semi-pro outfit) which brings a similarly comfortable 3-0 win.

The crowds of around 2,000 that attended each of the games will have been met with mixed feelings. Early signs of the new coaches style of play were clear, and Energie dominated each of their opponents, created plenty of chances and won their games comfortably. The caveat, however, being that their local opponents will not have provided the kind of stiffer test Energie will face on their return to 3. Liga.

Meyer's decision to play 'softer' opposition and boost morale with wins, rather than play strong sides to really work out the tactical kinks during pre-season has attracted criticism. Former players and columnists in the local press have suggested Meyer appears naive and that these decisions could seriously backfire, with some supporters also expressing concerns that the team are unprepared and under-equipped to compete at this level.

"We have to block out the noise." Meyer responds. "Pre-season has been positive, we've made good progress in a short space of time and we're ready to go. That is all that matters."

Expectations are understandably muted ahead of the season opener against VfL Osnabruck, but training in the lead up to the game is sharp and the players seem in good spirits. You can even detect some confidence from within the camp. The supporters, however, don't appear to share the players' optimism. The stadium was around a third full, with only 7,000 supporters turning up for the season opener, but those in attendance were on their feet almost instantly. Jonas Hoffman raced in behind and had the ball in the net after just 9 minutes, only to be ruled offside.

Energie dominated much of the possession and created plenty of chances, but they were almost punished on numerous occasions when playing out from the back when they were turning over possession cheaply under little pressure. If Meyer is to persist with this style, there is much work to do. As it was, the teams took their share of the spoils in a relatively entertaining 0-0 draw.

Despite their shortcomings, Energie Cottbus can feel disappointed not to take all three points. They scored again late on when on-loan striker Lucas Copado fired in a low shot, again to be denied by the offside flag. "A draw is a fair result on the balance of play." Meyer says diplomatically. "We kept a clean sheet and some aspects of our attacking play was very good, so we take the positives and move forward".

__________________________________________________________________________________

"What is the point in sitting back and waiting for defeat?"

"It's a good opportunity for us to go and test ourselves against top level opposition." Meyer says ahead of the DFB-Pokal tie with Bundesliga side, Heidenheim. "We won't be taking a backwards step." he adds defiantly. It is the kind of statement that will make you a genius or a fool. Meyer tells me he will be instructing his side to approach the game in a positive manner and play on the front foot.

"What is the point in sitting back and waiting for defeat?" he asks me, I assume rhetorically. "It's not how I want my team to be. If I want my players to buy into what we're trying to do, what does it say if I change everything for one opponent? I want us to be brave and go after the opponent every time, at every opportunity."

The local press praise Energie's 5-2 win over Heidenheim

There were quiet murmurings within the club that Meyer's cavalier style would be brutally exposed by a Bundesliga opponent, but I was in attendance to watch his vindication over the course of 90 thrilling minutes in Cottbus. True to his word, Meyer sent his Energie side out with the intention of taking the game to Heidenheim and stunned their opponents in a pulsating 5-2 victory. A Max Oesterhelweg double was bettered by Lucas Copado's hat-trick as Energie swept aside their top-flight counterparts.

The home side raced into a 3-0 lead by half-time. Their nerve was tested when Sirlord Conteh hit two quick goals to reduce the deficit to just one goal. A hush fell over the stadium as anxiety grew amongst the previously fervent Energie crowd. Mirroring their managers' journey in the first few weeks of his reign the team pushed on, seemingly unaffected by the on-field setbacks and off-field noise (or lack of) and showed no signs of wavering from the plan. Within ten minutes of conceding, Energie had restored their three-goal advantage and with it, the party atmosphere.

By the time the full-time whistle had gone and the players were soaking up the adulation from the 10,000 strong crowd, it felt like the mood had begun to shift. From the early scepticism came a groundswell of positivity.

For the time being, at least, the dissenting voices have been silenced.