Kramer insists he enjoys club backing despite poor form run
DSC trainer Frank Kramer was brought in to inject a new life into Arminia Bielefeld last spring.
After the hometown fans had to watch their team fail to hold their own against FSV Mainz for the second time in four days on Saturday, the calls of "Kramer Raus!" got noticeably loudly in the stands.
First there was Mainz's come-from-behind win in the Pokal on Tuesday. DSC Arminia Bielefeld fans then had watch as their side lost to the very same team 1-2 in the league on Saturday.
After the hometown fans had to watch their team fail to hold their own against FSV Mainz for the second time in four days on Saturday, the calls of "Kramer Raus!" got noticeably loudly in the stands.
Despite what many considered to be a strong summer transfer window from club sporting director Samir Arabi, it simply isn't coming together for the East Westphalians. The Teutoburgs are second from bottom in the Bundesliga table. Just like last-placed Greuther Fürth, Bielefeld have not won a league match through ten rounds this season.
The team looked particularly unfocused in the latest loss, with both Germany U21 defender Amos Pieper and keeper Stefan Ortega Moreno making crucial errors. The "Kramer Raus!" ("Kramer out") calls got noticeably louder in the stands as it became clear that the squad was outclassed.
"There's always a great deal of pressure when you're fighting to retain the class," Kramer said when asked about his team's poor form, "You're under pressure right from the start and then it gets worse when you can't get a win."
Kramer didn't have too much positive to say about his side's meager five-point-haul (all draws) on the season. Asked whether he felt that he still had the club's backing, the 49-year-old answered with a resounding "yes".
It might be the case that Arabi, widely thought to be headed to fill the vacant sporting director position at Köln in a few weeks, may not even be the administrator in charge of potentially finding a replacement.
Bielefeld have scored just six league goals this season. Apart from Fabian Klos, none of the team's designated striking corps have tallied.