The Spielvereinigung Sterkrade-Nord is finding it very difficult to win in the Landesliga. The new Spvvg. coach is still undefeated, but also only picked up one three-pointer.

Five games, one win, no defeats, four draws: That is Sven Schützek’s record as coach of the Oberhausen regional league team Spielvereinigung Sterkrade-Nord.

Schützek was given a clear mission when he took up his post: to save the Oberliga relegated team from falling into the Bezirksliga. With six matchdays to go, Nord are one point away from a relegation spot.

After the draw at home against Sportfreunde Broekhuysen, RevierSport spoke to 46-year-old Schalke fan Schützek.

Sven Schützek, you seem to have gone into 2023 with the Schalke tactic…

(laughs) I know what you’re getting at. But these four draws from five games were not our goal at all. But we simply have to realise that in this Landesliga, every game is damn difficult and close. It doesn’t matter at all whether you play against a team from the top or the bottom. But of course: We don’t need to philosophise much: We have to get another three points! That’s the only thing that will help us in the end.

Your team has won seven matches in a row during the preparation. Why is the team having such a hard time now?

It’s much easier for us against teams that are in the game. On the other hand, we often don’t have the right solutions against teams that play at the back. We have to work on that. Because the Landesliga is really disgusting. But that can’t be an excuse. Now we have to make sure that we win against the top team Mülheimer FC 97. We already showed against top team Scherpenberg that we are equal to them. So why shouldn’t we beat Mülheim?

Are you still absolutely convinced that you can stay in the league?

Definitely! We haven’t lost a game yet. It’s not easy to beat us either. There is a lot of potential in this team. We’ll keep the Landesliga!