For many Hannover 96 fans their recent relegation into the second division - after 14 years in the top flight - was a catastrophe. Daniel Stendel is in agreement, however, he wouldn’t label it a tragedy, as they’ve lived through one of those recently too. Saturday evening provided the club a conciliatory conclusion to the season, as Stendel was able to direct a few words towards the skies: "Greetings up there: Niklas, we've got the Cup!"
Niklas Feierabend had been involved during Hannover's victory over Borussia Dortmund in the semi-final of the DFB Junior Cup, but he was dearly missed in the final with Hertha BSC. The 19-year-old had passed away on 1st May, having been involved in a fatal car accident.
"We thought about Niklas today and we played for him as well," said Stendel after H96 secured a dramatic 4-2 victory against the defending champions. Stendel, who will be in charge of Hannover's first team side as they aim for an immediate return to the Bundesliga, assumed his former position on the sidelines of the club’s U19s for the final, a position he had only vacated back in April. This game was believed to be a chance for Hannover to overcome the ghosts of the past. "It feels good," revealed Stendel after the game.
Slomka: "A really positive feeling for the club"
The cup winners raised their coach into the air after the final whistle but Stendel didn't forget about the losers even in the moment of success. Before the awards ceremony began, he shook hands with every Hertha player on the pitch. They know the downside of football in Hannover only too well. "After everything that's happened this is a really positive moment for the club," said Mirko Slomka, one of Stendel's predecessors at Hannover 96. "The lads certainly played for Niklas today."
Stendel did not address Feierabend's death prior to the final. On the day before the match Stendel refused to answer questions at the final press conference on Niklas Feierabend, who had scored four goals during Hannover's charge towards the final. "It engaged us and we talked about it. We handled the situation internally," reported Stendel on Friday. The next day he announced: "We tried to overcome the situation, if that's even possible at all." After the final whistle the players held up the shirt of their deceased team mate.
Stendel: "We wanted to finish off the season together"
Relegated yet still a Cup winner - Stendel's dual role is certainly unique. Martin Kind was also on site in Berlin - Hannover's strong man. With six games left in the Bundesliga season, he had promoted the U19 coach immediately after they had secured their final ticket with a victory over Dortmund. Stendel was able to give the team new impulses but relegation was not avoidable.
For many Hannover 96 fans their recent relegation into the second division - after 14 years in the top flight - was a catastrophe. Daniel Stendel is in agreement, however, he wouldn’t label it a tragedy, as they’ve lived through one of those recently too. Saturday evening provided the club a conciliatory conclusion to the season, as Stendel was able to direct a few words towards the skies: "Greetings up there: Niklas, we've got the Cup!"
Niklas Feierabend had been involved during Hannover's victory over Borussia Dortmund in the semi-final of the DFB Junior Cup, but he was dearly missed in the final with Hertha BSC. The 19-year-old had passed away on 1st May, having been involved in a fatal car accident.
"We thought about Niklas today and we played for him as well," said Stendel after H96 secured a dramatic 4-2 victory against the defending champions. Stendel, who will be in charge of Hannover's first team side as they aim for an immediate return to the Bundesliga, assumed his former position on the sidelines of the club’s U19s for the final, a position he had only vacated back in April. This game was believed to be a chance for Hannover to overcome the ghosts of the past. "It feels good," revealed Stendel after the game.
Slomka: "A really positive feeling for the club"
The cup winners raised their coach into the air after the final whistle but Stendel didn't forget about the losers even in the moment of success. Before the awards ceremony began, he shook hands with every Hertha player on the pitch. They know the downside of football in Hannover only too well. "After everything that's happened this is a really positive moment for the club," said Mirko Slomka, one of Stendel's predecessors at Hannover 96. "The lads certainly played for Niklas today."
Stendel did not address Feierabend's death prior to the final. On the day before the match Stendel refused to answer questions at the final press conference on Niklas Feierabend, who had scored four goals during Hannover's charge towards the final. "It engaged us and we talked about it. We handled the situation internally," reported Stendel on Friday. The next day he announced: "We tried to overcome the situation, if that's even possible at all." After the final whistle the players held up the shirt of their deceased team mate.
Stendel: "We wanted to finish off the season together"
Relegated yet still a Cup winner - Stendel's dual role is certainly unique. Martin Kind was also on site in Berlin - Hannover's strong man. With six games left in the Bundesliga season, he had promoted the U19 coach immediately after they had secured their final ticket with a victory over Dortmund. Stendel was able to give the team new impulses but relegation was not avoidable.
After all, he was presented with the opportunity of winning a title at the end of a very stricken season. "We said right from the start that we want to get ourselves to Berlin and win the Cup," said Stendel. "We achieved this together and now we wanted to finish it off together. But it was still a small change of scenery for me."
Youngsters will get chance to showcase themselves in second division
One couldn't notice that anything had changed for Stendel. The coach was not only celebrated by his players, but also by the travelling Hannover fans. "We wanted to show that we are a good team and that we have good players," told Stendel. "We accomplished that today. I didn't care about the result as long as we achieved that."
His wild youth have not only provided Stendel with his first title as a coach, but will also likely look to help him start over in the 2. Bundesliga. "If they continue to develop like this, then several of them will have a chance," believes the coach. Hopefully the future will provide Hannover with more reasons for celebrations and not grieving.
