Rot-Weiss Essen will face FC Viktoria Köln on the road Sunday evening (March 22, 7:30 p.m.). Here’s what Uwe Koschinat had to say ahead of the match.

First, the good news from Rot-Weiss Essen’s perspective: Marek Janssen was able to complete the full team practice again on Friday (March 20) and will play on Sunday against FC Viktoria Köln.

“He trained without any problems and is available to us,” reports Uwe Koschinat. While Koschinat’s 13-goal scorer quickly got his Achilles tendon issues under control, another key player will be out.

Namely, Jannik Hofmann. “He’s dealing with a hematoma resulting from his training accident on Wednesday. Jannik will definitely be out. The same continues to apply to Jannik Mause,” explains Koschinat.

Viktoria Köln sits safely in mid-table with 38 points. But if coach Marian Wilhelm has his way, Viktoria still needs a few more points. “At 45 points, we can call it a day. I hope that after Sunday night, we’ll have 41 points to our credit,” he told Forecasting.

I’m not worrying about the situation on Matchday 38. Overall, we’re in a very stable position. Our focus is solely on our next opponent.

Uwe Koschinat

Koschinat, who recently led Rot-Weiss Essen to three straight wins and is in a relegation spot for the first time after 29 games, has great respect for the Höhenberg team’s performances.

Koschinat: “This is a team that has once again surprised us in a positive way over the course of the season. Viktoria hasn’t been affected by personnel changes. Dudu and Lobinger left in the winter, and Viktoria managed to make up for those losses. This is a very solid team with several standout qualities. And of course: It’s a possession-oriented team. But they can also capitalize heavily on set pieces. It’s always a special moment to wrap up a matchday. We’re looking forward to it, and I expect an exciting game at Sportpark Höhenberg.”

The fact that Essen is currently in third place—and thus the team being chased—is of only passing interest to Koschinat. Ahead of the away game in Cologne, he emphasized: “I’m not concerned with the situation on Matchday 38. Overall, we’re in a very stable position. Our focus is solely on our next opponent.”