Overview
- Louis Lord will start in goal for FC Erzgebirge Aue at Hansa Rostock, with long-serving captain Martin Männel on the bench.
- Männel has been recovering from a hip issue and last played on November 28, with a canceled test against Rot-Weiß Erfurt limiting his match practice.
- Lord, initially the third-choice keeper, impressed during Männel’s absence with three straight starts in December and two clean sheets.
- Härtel emphasized that Aue’s goalkeeper hierarchy is not set, noting the club has three viable options and that Max Uhlig is currently third in line.
- The coach expects a demanding away game, pointing to Rostock’s ten-match unbeaten run and aggressive pressing under a charged home atmosphere.