The strikers of Rot-Weiss Essen have not been hitting the target for months. This fact is also part of the truth as to why things are not going well at RWE at the moment.

When things didn’t go well against SV Wehen Wiesbaden (1:3), Simon Engelmann was demanded by the RWE fans with continuous chants already after 60 minutes. And Christoph Dabrowski brought him on.

The goal scorer, who had finally cured his tonsillitis, almost scored on his comeback. In the 75th minute he just missed the 2:2.

Once again, he stood where a striker has to stand. Let’s be clear: If Engelmann hadn’t been out so often this season, the striker debate at RWE would hardly exist. But there is.

Because the always passionate but hapless Ron Berlinski last scored in a 5:3 win in Oldenburg, that was at the beginning of November 2022. We don’t even need to talk about Hertha BSC loanee Luca Wollschläger, a big disappointment.

This already raises the question of whether Rot-Weiss Essen haven’t gambled with the squad line-up in attack? “Every club in the world is looking for a striker who can score 15 goals. That’s not the only problem that only we have. Luca Wollschläger has fluctuations and hasn’t really come into his own yet. Maybe he’ll score in Bocholt and be celebrated. Football is crazy sometimes,” answers Dabrowski.

We need points and wins. We’ve been under pressure all season. If we draw games like against Verl, Duisburg, or Ingolstadt, then we would have brought more calm to our situation. But apparently we need this knife under our necks again and again. Believe me: I would wish it differently.

Christoph Dabrowski

The 44-year-old doesn’t actually want to know anything about RWE having “gambled itself away”. Dabrowski explains: “We trust the team that is there. Nothing has changed in principle. I couldn’t care less who scores the goals. But you still need patience. Even with a striker like Ron Berlinski. I’m glad that Simon Engelmann is back. We have to get back to being dangerous in standard situations. And: to play the opponent so disgustingly that they have a hard time creating scoring chances against us. “

Of course, the RWE coach is not unaware that the promoted team is only five points clear of the relegation places after last weekend’s results.

Dabrowski: “You have to see that you set victories. The classic is that teams suddenly win at teams where you didn’t expect them to. But we shouldn’t pay attention to that. We need points and wins. We’ve been under pressure all season. If we had won games like against Verl, Duisburg or Ingolstadt, we would have brought more peace into our situation. But apparently we need this knife under our necks again and again. Believe me: I’d wish it differently, too. “