Third division side Rot-Weiss Essen returned to winning ways against SC Freiburg II. Ron Berlinski was instrumental in both goals.
The relief was great! After Rot-Weiss Essen’s 2-0 victory over SC Freiburg’s U23, the team celebrated together with over 14,000 fans the important three-goal win in the relegation battle.
Essen’s number nine Ron Berlinski played a major role in the win with his fantastic strike for the 2-0 final score in the 48th minute. For the offensive player, it was his sixth goal of the season – and his first league goal since the beginning of November 2022.
Before the 1:0 by Simon Engelmann, Berlinski had also taken the penalty against Jordy Makengo. So he was involved in both goals. But that was not the only reason why the 28-year-old was one of the best players on the pitch.
He ran, worked hard and never avoided a duel. Berlinski coped very well with the adverse weather conditions and the poor pitch. The native of Bochum had already scored 2:0 in the first leg (final score: 3:0).
After the final whistle, Ron Berlinski answered questions in the catacombs:
Ron Berlinski on …
I absolutely don’t understand the coach issue! We’re in the cup final and on course to stay in the league. There’s no need to argue that those were our goals. As long as everything is on target, why question something like that?
Ron Berlinski.
the 2-0 home win against Freiburg II: “I’m not complaining about the weather conditions. Here in Essen, you celebrate it when you play physical football and work hard and honestly. That’s what I did and I’m happy about my goal because I haven’t scored for a while. The match plan worked. There was also the difference that we are a men’s team and Freiburg wanted to gamble. After the 2-0 we didn’t let anything go in the second half.”
The end of his personal dry spell: “Sure, you worry because as a striker I’m measured by goals. But I’m judged a little differently because I can help the team with my hard work. The critics have already got on my nerves because they only see the goals.”
His use as a right-winger: “I don’t care where I play. With Engelmann, of course, we have a player up front who has a different quality than me. He brings the physicality and can definitely distribute the balls better. If we always get three points in this combination, then I’ll sign off like that.”
The penalty situation: “In the situation before, I wanted to take the ball and he had already stepped on my foot. That’s when I had asked him openly to admit it honestly, but he had denied it. Karma usually strikes back. It was in the sixteen, it was clear contact and one hundred percent a penalty.”
The coaching discussions before the game: “I absolutely cannot understand the coaching issue! We’re in the cup final and on course to stay in the league. There’s no need to discuss that those were our goals. As long as everything is on target, why should you question something like that?”
The insults against individual players after the Bocholt game: “I have no understanding for that. These people should be banned from the stadium for life. That kind of thing doesn’t belong in stadiums. We stick together as a team – and you saw that against Freiburg. “
