Aue coach Härtel wants to strengthen the defense

New coach Jens Härtel avoided big talk about promotion to the second division during his official presentation at third-division soccer club FC Erzgebirge Aue. "We're not going to stand up today and proclaim the goal of the second division. You also need a bit of luck if you want to hit the big time. We have maximum ambition and want to get the maximum out of it," said Härtel.

He wants to focus on the defensive work in particular. "If you concede 34 goals, you're bottom of the table in the first half. There is also potential in set pieces," he said.

After 14 months of inactivity, the 55-year-old, who was contracted to Eintracht Braunschweig until October 2023, was looking forward to his new role at his old club. "A great club, I know the region, especially when you see what has been created here, what a force this club is developing in this city," said Härtel, who previously coached the traditional East German clubs 1. FC Magdeburg and Hansa Rostock.

No new additions planned

Härtel denied whether Aue will have to be active on the transfer market during the winter break, when the team is preparing on the Turkish Riviera for the second half of the season at Hannover 96 II on January 17 (7 p.m./MagentaSport). "The squad has picked up 29 points, at the moment there's nothing from my side that would make me say we absolutely need new signings," said the coach, who had to leave after just eleven games at his last club in Braunschweig.

For Aue's sporting director Matthias Heidrich, Härtel's signing is a stroke of luck following the departure of long-serving coach Pavel Dotchev. "In the end, it was about a certain desire and anticipation for the club. I sensed that immediately, can that match the work ethic here? That's why we were quickly together, because we quickly had a common ground," said Heidrich. Nevertheless, Härtel calls for "humility for the league". It is "always difficult to make predictions. Anything is possible if you get into a good run".