After scoring six goals against Rot-Weiss Oberhausen, Michael Delura, U17 coach of Rot-Weiss Essen, is satisfied with the development of his team. Now Schalke is waiting.
Rot-Weiss Essen’s U17s are in sixth place in the Junior Bundesliga West after ten match days. But for coach Michael Delura, that’s just a snapshot: “We’re naturally very pleased to be ahead of top teams like Borussia Mönchengladbach or 1. FC Köln.”
However, he is not blinded by this. “We want to continue to go our way. We have great morale and a great team unity. We will continue to try to play forward courageously and intensively and find playful solutions.”
Justifiably, Delura points out that things are going really well offensively. Defensively, however, he sees room for improvement. “I don’t think it’s often happened that a Rot-Weiss Essen U17 has scored 23 goals after ten match days.” But the truth also includes the fact that they have already conceded 19 goals. “We still have to learn that offensive thinking does not exclude disciplined defending.”
Against Rot-Weiß Oberhausen that worked really well, in the derby RWE won 6:1. “Paderborn was very compact, there we had hardly any scoring chances and also deserved to lose. It was different against Oberhausen, where we created a few opportunities and converted them. Despite the six goals, we didn’t allow much defensively either. We have to keep that up. “
This will be a test of character for my team. First the team from the top, then a team from the bottom of the table
Michael Delura
The best way to do that is on Wednesday, when the unbeaten league leaders come from Gelsenkirchen. “Against Schalke, nobody expects anything from us. There comes the absolute top favorite. Of course, it will be difficult to get three points. But we’ll put our team spirit on the line and try to make the most of our minimal chance. We won’t hide, but will try to bring our game through and be successful with switching moments. I feel a great sense of anticipation.”
English week awaits – first Schalke, then Waltrop
Delura’s team faces an English week, because in addition to Schalke, the away game at VfB Waltrop awaits on Saturday. “That will be a test of character for my team. First the team from the top, then a team from the bottom of the table. However, I believe that we will deliver two good games.”
That way, the team’s internal goal of eighth place in the table can then also be achieved. “The team has set itself the goal. But I must say, for me the development of the players has the highest priority. We want to prepare them for the U19s in the best possible way. “