Cottbus ahead of clash against Dresden: move even closer together

Without its suspended head coach Claus-Dieter Wollitz, FC Energie Cottbus is focusing on team unity in the explosive eastern duel in the 3rd Football League against Dynamo Dresden. "We have to move even closer together, talk to each other even more," explained defender Filip Kusic ahead of Friday's match (7:00 p.m. / MagentaSport).

Wollitz was shown a red card for complaining during Cottbus' 2:1 defeat in the third league opener against Arminia Bielefeld. As a result, the German Football Association (DFB) sports tribunal banned the Energie coach from the pitch for one match. "I made a mistake. But it still hurts not to be allowed to watch a game like this from the sidelines," said Wollitz. "But I have maximum confidence in our young assistant coaches Tobias Röder and Jonas Hildebrandt."

Rivaling fans

The match at Dresden's Rudolf Harbig Stadium has been sold out for days with 32,000 spectators and will take place under heavy security precautions. It is the first match between Dynamo Dresden and Energie Cottbus in eight years. The two rival fan camps have traditionally fought a duel for supremacy in the region between Cottbus and Dresden.

Dynamo Dresden go into the match not only with home advantage but also with the sense of achievement from their 2:1 win at Viktoria Köln in the season opener. Energie Cottbus conceded a late goal at Arminia Bielefeld. "We have to get used to the high intensity in the 3rd division quickly. Then we can hold our own against any opponent," said Wollitz.