The stage is set. The Violets will play their first competitive match of the 2025/26 season on Thursday evening (8.30pm) against Georgian Cup winners Spaeri FC from Tbilisi in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League. Coach Stephan Helm and sporting director Jürgen Werner spoke about tomorrow's opponents, new signing Johannes Eggestein and the transfer window so far at today's press conference.

Coach Stephan Helm

...about tomorrow's opponent: 'Spaeri FC qualified for the Conference League via the cup final. As a second division team, they have eliminated the first division teams through switching moments. We have to watch out for that. We want to advance to the next round. To do that, we have to be brutally aggressive against the ball. But if the opposition are deeper, we also have to be patient. We want to be even more unpredictable this season, less wait-and-see.'  

...on the transfer period so far: 'We have become broader and more flexible in terms of the squad. The integration of the new players has worked well. We can play variations and adapt better to opponents. We have players for the backline, some for the deep areas, we have big guys and mobile ones. Right from the start of training, everyone was fully involved. As a club, we've taken a step forwards.'

Sports director Jürgen Werner  

...on new signing Johannes Eggestein: 'We were in favour of Jojo Eggestein for a long time and are glad that he has decided to join us. Stephan (Helm, editor's note) was longing for a player who could play between the lines. Jojo is an intelligent player and person. Manuel Ortlechner got him a place at Sigmund Freud University, he wants to study part-time. He has a very strong character and we like the way he has been received by the team.'

...on the transfers of recent weeks: 'The left-back is on his way, we are in concrete negotiations. With Galvao, Meisl, Potzmann and Vinlöf, we've lost four defensive players and only brought in Lee. We need someone else. In offence, we've also lost four players and brought in four. I hope that we have improved and are now in a broader position. We need this manpower for Europe and the upcoming tasks. All the squad players will be ours this year. This is the first transfer period where we can be satisfied. Orti and the scouts have done a great job.'

...on possible departures: 'There are offers for our attacking players, but they are not yet at a reasonable level. We want to be prepared in case something else happens. I don't want to give out any status reports at the moment. There are offers, we are sounding them out.'

Squad news

Philipp Wiesinger is injured and questionable for Thursday, new signing Johannes Eggestein is not yet a possibility.