Miscellaneous

ASC Grünwettersbach has slipped to the bottom of the table in the table tennis Bundesliga after nine consecutive defeats and is now fighting to stay in the league. In this interview, ASC sporting director Martin Werner talks about the reasons for the ‘black series’, the effects of the still uncertain future and the future plans of the Karlsruhe club with its double world champion Hiroto Shinozuka.

Martin Werner, ASC Grünwettersbach is at the bottom of the table with five rounds to go before the end of the season and is in acute danger of relegation. How closely are you following the promotion efforts of clubs in the second division?

Of course I'm watching. We're in limbo because it will be difficult to sign players if we are relegated.

Do you expect real ‘final matches’ at TSV Bad Königshofen and against TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau at the end of the season?

First of all, we have to score points so that there can be any final matches at all!

How would you have reacted at the start of the season to a prediction of this table position for your club?

I always say that a lot can happen, especially when players get injured.

Is bad luck with injuries the main reason for the poor season?

We simply haven't won any more matches! It's as simple as that!

What role did the end of the collaboration with your former head coach Achim Krämer in the early stages of the season play in your team's decline in the table?

None at all.

The ASC has a world champion in its ranks. Was it nevertheless to be expected that Ricardo Walther's absence and recovery period would have such a serious impact? After all, even without Ricardo Walther, you still won 3-0 against Werder Bremen, who were top of the table at the time.

A lot went really well against Bremen... Unfortunately, that wasn't often the case!

When do you expect Ricardo Walther to be back to 100 per cent?

I can't say. Even when he's fit again, he'll need match practice. Of course, I hope he can help the team again in the last five games.

The final doubles were recently a strength for Grünwettersbach. However, all five doubles have been lost so far this season. Is it just because of Walther's limited availability?

No, I don't think so. When things aren't working, they're not working. In some cases, it shouldn't have come to doubles in the first place.

Is Hiroto Shinozuka so important to ASC as their number one that he can't play in his world championship discipline, doubles?

Hiroto started the season well, but recently he hasn't been able to reach his potential. He was often very tired. He's an excellent doubles player, but the playing system also has to suit his partner.

How satisfied are you with Shinozuka's performance so far, and will he continue to play for Grünwettersbach next season?

Overall, I had hoped for more. He had actually already agreed to stay on for next season, but will now be returning to Japan after all.

How much does the relegation battle affect your further plans for the new season?

Of course, it's not easy to plan for two scenarios at once.

How important is it for your club to stay in the league? Could relegation be remedied within a short period of time, or is there more at stake?

What a question... Of course, staying in the league is the most important thing – there's nothing more to say about that.

Thank you very much for talking to us, Martin Werner.

Florian Manzke