This is how Borussia Dortmund, Schalke 04 and VfL Bochum are taking advantage of the XXL break in the Bundesliga for the World Cup in Qatar. An overview.
69 days – Borussia Dortmund, Schalke 04 and VfL Bochum have never experienced such a long winter break in the Bundesliga. The World Cup in Qatar makes it possible.
Unlike Schalke and Bochum, BVB has many World Cup players – so BVB coach Edin Terzic’s preparation with all players for the remaining two match days of the first half of the season as well as the entire second half (it starts again from 20 to 22 January) is much shorter than that of his coaching colleagues Thomas Reis (Schalke) and Thomas Letsch (Bochum). Here is an overview of the World Cup winter schedule of the three Ruhr Area clubs.
Borussia Dortmund (6th place, 25 points, 25:21 goals)
Vacation: 12 December until beginning of January
Start of training: Beginning of January
Test matches/training camp: Lion City Sailors (Singapore) – BVB (24 November), Johor Southern Tigers (Malaysia) – BVB (28 November), Vietnam national team – BVB (30 November, Hanoi), training camp in Marbella in early January.
First Bundesliga match in the new year: Borussia Dortmund – FC Augsburg (Sunday, 22 January, 3.30 p.m.)
At BVB, the two final defeats before the World Cup break must be interrupted for the time being – 25 points after 15 games is not the Champions League eighth-finalist’s claim.
Kehl sees “troubled weeks” ahead for BVB
Sport director Sebastian Kehl therefore speaks of “a few restless weeks”. The Black and Yellows are represented at the tournament in Qatar by eleven internationals. Coach Edin Terzic will therefore have to fill out his squad with young talent on the upcoming tour of Southeast Asia.
Schalke 04 (18th place, 9 points, 13:32 goals)
Holiday: 16 to 30 November, short Christmas break
Start of training: 1 December
Test matches/training camp: Rapid Wien – Schalke 04 (9 December, 7 p.m.), VfL Osnabrück – Schalke 04 (22 December, 7 p.m.); two more planned, including a training camp in early January (location still open)
First Bundesliga match in the new year: Eintracht Frankfurt – Schalke 04 (Saturday, 21 January, 3.30 p.m.)
Reis sees new DNA implanted at Schalke 04
A performance test is still on the agenda on Tuesday, then Schalke’s professionals will go on holiday to process the 15 match days so far and recharge their batteries for the second half of the season in the new year. “We are the hunter, the others are the hunted – that’s what the coach said in the dressing room,” said Tom Krauß after the 0:2 against FC Bayern, explaining Thomas Reis’ approach for the rest of the season.
The new coach is banking on the unusually long winter break: “I have tried to bring a certain DNA and a certain philosophy into the team,” said the 49-year-old. “The team is willing to implement things. It has found confidence.” Depending on their financial possibilities, Schalke are also planning to add personnel by the 2023 opener at Eintracht Frankfurt.
VfL Bochum (17th place, 13 points, 14:36 goals)
Holidays: 16 to 27 November and 23 to 1 January
Start of training: 28 November and 2 January
Test matches: VfL Bochum – Karlsruher SC (10 December, 1 p.m., Ruhrstadion), SC Paderborn – VfL Bochum (16 December), training camp in Jerez de la Frontera (7 to 14 January)
First Bundesliga match in the new year: VfL Bochum – Hertha BSC (Saturday, 21 January, 3.30 p.m.)
Just in time before the interruption due to the World Cup in Qatar, VfL Bochum still managed to get their first away win of the season. “It’s always the same when there’s a break: it’s great to go in there with a sense of achievement,” said coach Thomas Letsch after the 1-0 win at FC Augsburg.
Striker Simon Zoller: Change of coach did VfL Bochum good
Under the successor of Thomas Reis, who was released and has since left for Schalke 04, VfL picked up five wins in nine competitive matches (one of them in the cup). “13 points are okay for now,” said VfL striker Simon Zoller. “The change of coach was good. We need a guiding hand – and we have it. “
