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1. FC Saarbrücken-TT has recently experienced a range of emotions. Success in the Champions League and, above all, a recent transfer coup are offset by what could be a significant setback in the TTBL. In this interview, FCS captain Patrick Franziska talks about the sensational signing of vice world champion Hugo Calderano, reaching the Final Four of the premier class and the effects of the 2:3 defeat at Bundesliga leaders Borussia Düsseldorf.

Patrick Franziska, after six consecutive competitive victories – including reaching the Final Four of the Champions League in your own hall – you and your team from 1. FC Saarbrücken-TT lost again in the 2:3 defeat in the ‘Clasico’ against the TTBL leaders. The defeat, especially after a 2-0 lead, was not planned with the possible top spot in the table in sight, was it?

No, that wasn't the plan. But you could see from our line-up – with Fan only in second position in the singles and Cedric Meißner in the doubles – that we wanted to try something new. The fact that we lost is of course particularly annoying after a 2:0 lead.

Wasn't the top spot in the table incentive enough to field the best possible line-up?

Yes, normally it would have been, and that was our intention. Unfortunately, Darko Jorgic was injured in training the day before the match.

Considered virtually unbeatable before the start of the season, Saarbrücken has now lost five matches. How do you see the situation in the TTBL ahead of the last five rounds?

Our goal is basically to reach the play-offs, and things are looking pretty good for that because the teams in the first non-play-off places (TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen and Borussia Dortmund/editor's note) are still six points behind us, which is quite a long way. That's why the 2:3 defeat against Düsseldorf, which is now also a top European team, is no disaster. The mood in the dressing room remains good.

Is the importance of first place after the main round being overestimated with the new right to choose your semi-final opponent?

No, not fundamentally. As I said, our goal was to climb to first place. Now we are four points behind, which will not make it any easier, also because it is no longer in our own hands. However, we did not set ourselves the goal of absolutely having to finish first, as you could see from some of our line-ups. So now another main round winner will have to choose a team for the semi-finals.

Are you now keeping your fingers crossed for Düsseldorf to take first place, because your team probably doesn't have to worry that Borussia will opt for a semi-final match against Saarbrücken?

I don't think Düsseldorf would do that. But even if they did, if we want to win the title, we'll probably have to play Düsseldorf sooner or later anyway. But we've already lost to TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt and Werder Bremen this season, who are currently in the other two play-off spots. That's why it's all the more important for us to be at our best at the right time.

This season, it's almost impossible to talk about Saarbrücken without mentioning Fan Zhendong. Has your team's superstar settled into the TTBL after his initial difficulties?

It was already clear at the start of the season that no one is unbeatable. For Fan, for example, the frequent changes from fast to slow tables are probably difficult because he is not used to such changes in China. But he makes a very relaxed impression on all of us, and we saw at the Liebherr Cup Final Four at the beginning of the year that Fan plays 20 per cent better when it really matters.

Have you and your teammates gotten used to the hype surrounding your famous superstar?

It's great for our sport. We always play in front of sold-out crowds and often – as was the case in Düsseldorf and before that in the Champions League in Trier – in really big arenas. That's cool. But it's still crazy when Fan goes out to our fans in the hall after a match: if there's no bodyguard hired, Darko and I have to play bodyguards for Fan.

The closer the end of the season gets, the more pressing the question of Fan Zhendong's future in Saarbrücken becomes. What is the current situation?

I can't say anything about that – because I don't know anything.

However, it has been known since the beginning of February that Saarbrücken has once again caused a sensation on the transfer market and is bringing back the vice world champion and World Cup winner Hugo Calderano to the TTBL for the coming season. Is the plan to become unbeatable?

After Darko's decision to leave, it was more of a fundamental decision by the club about its future direction: Do you take a step back, play with several younger players, as Darko and I did in our early years in Saarbrücken, in the midfield and see if you can achieve more? Or do you want to continue at full throttle? The club opted for the second option and, in addition to Hugo, also signed Alvaro Robles as a very strong doubles player.

When Fan Zhendong moved to Saarbrücken, it was said that the very first contacts with Fan were made through you. Were you also involved in initiating the Calderano deal this time?

No. When it became clear that Darko would be leaving us at the end of the season and the club wanted to continue playing at the top European level, we had to look at who might be suitable – and there aren't that many at this level.

But isn't it almost imperative to extend Fan's time in Saarbrücken beyond the current season if Saarbrücken wants to maintain its current level?

If a player like Fan were no longer there, the level would naturally drop again. That's why it would be cool if Fan stayed. But if you bring in someone like Hugo Calderano in the current situation, it's clear that you want to compete for all the titles again.

Thank you very much for talking to us, Patrick Franziska.

Interview: Florian Manzke