Preußen Münster are playing a breathtaking round. The SCP have only lost once in their last 17 games. With Joel Grodowski, the eagle bearers also have a real goalscorer.

There are still eight match days to go in the 3rd division. Preußen Münster are in fourth place and only three points behind first place. The leading quartet are in a neck-and-neck race for promotion to Bundesliga 2.

Based on their current form, it even seems that promoted Münster have the best chance of taking one of the two direct promotion places or, in the worst case, third place in the relegation play-offs.

Coach Sascha Hildmann’s team have only lost one of their last 17 matches and have won their last six games in a row. Joel Grodowski is also a guarantee of success. The 26-year-old striker has scored 15 times in 28 appearances. Only Jannik Mause (FC Ingolstadt) is better with 17 goals.

Next Saturday – March 23, 2 p.m. – the Prussians travel to Arminia Bielefeld for the derby. The Westphalia Cup semi-final will take place on the Alm before the final spurt in the 3rd division begins.

Forecasting spoke to Grodowski ahead of the weeks of truth for Münster.

Joel Grodowski, how annoying is it that the two-week international break is coming up now of all times?

We don’t really have a break. We’re already playing in the Westphalia Cup in Bielefeld on Saturday. That’s good, of course, because it keeps us in rhythm and we don’t have to play a test match. And: It’s also a really cool game. Over 3000 Prussia fans will be accompanying us to the Alm – I’m already getting goosebumps.

After that it’s back-to-back games: Dresden, Regensburg, Ulm. Will these be the decisive games of the season?

They’re not the decisive games of the season. But it’s clear that the games are important. We know what’s at stake. We’re in the promotion battle and we’re looking from game to game to make sure things go well. But we will also have to do that after these key games. Because, as we know, anyone can beat anyone in this league

It’s unbelievable and certainly not normal. But there are examples like this. It was similar with Sascha Mölders. Sometimes you just need a bit of luck in life – but you also need goals. I scored 95 goals in two years in the Kreisliga A.

Joel Grodowski on his career to date

Do we actually hear the following sentence from you – “We want to move up to the 2nd Bundesliga” – ?

(laughs). No, not yet. It doesn’t make any sense to shout out any slogans. We’re doing well by remaining humble. But it’s also clear that we’re no longer playing to stay in the league and are pursuing higher goals.

Be honest: what would you have said to someone who had predicted this scenario after 30 match days?

I already realized during the preparations that we have a good team. In the first half of the season, however, we often failed to reward ourselves for good games. Things have been different for some time now. That’s why I wouldn’t have called anyone who predicted that crazy, but I would have told them to take it easy (laughs).

There was only one win in five games at the start of the season, but only one defeat in the last 17 games, and the last six matches have all been won: Was there actually the one sticking point for this incredible development?

I believe that the 1:6 against Paderborn in the winter break, which was also the dress rehearsal, was such a moment. We sat down afterwards and made it clear that we couldn’t do it that way. We changed the system and since then it’s just worked. I would also describe the Bielefeld game, which was on a knife-edge but which we drew, as such a crucial point. Now we’re simply in a flow that we want to maintain until the end.

What part does Sascha Hildmann play in this success – what makes this coach so special?

The long time he has been at the club is proof of the good work he does. But at this point you also have to mention Louis Cordes. Sascha and he understand each other as a coaching team and complement each other perfectly. Louis is the analyst who studies the opponent perfectly in the video analyses, Sascha is a great motivator. It just fits.

And what makes the team so strong?

We are a real team! I noticed that again on the train back from Munich. The atmosphere was great. We celebrated the win a bit and laughed a lot. It’s simply the case with us that everyone wants everyone else to succeed – even the guys sitting on the bench. And that’s not an act, it’s sincere.

You’ve already scored 15 goals. Are you actually playing the season of your life?

I would say that this is one of the most successful seasons in professional soccer. We’ll see whether it’s the season of my life after the 38th matchday (laughs). Seriously, I can’t and won’t rest. I always want to help the team and, of course, improve my goal tally. I’m only two goals behind the top scorer. Of course, like every striker, I have that in mind.

You once moved from the Kreisliga A from PSV Bork to Bradford City. You went back to Hamm, then Münster, Verl and then back to the Prussians. How would you describe your own career?

It’s unbelievable and certainly not normal. But there are examples like that. It was similar with Sascha Mölders. Sometimes you just need a bit of luck in life – but also goals. I scored 95 goals in two years in the Kreisliga A. There was a German scout in Bradford at the time and he watched me and thought I was good. Unfortunately, I was out of action at City for six months due to injury and returned to Hamm. Things didn’t go so well at the start but I never gave up and was rewarded. I would say that now, at 26, I’m being rewarded for all the hard work, but also great patience.

When you moved to Prussia in the summer of 2023, you also had other inquiries. Is it true that Rot-Weiss Essen were also interested in you? Why did you ultimately opt for Münster?

Yes, I can confirm that. There were also talks with RWE and other interested parties. But I wanted to return to the Prussians right from the start. Fortunately, that worked out.

Your contract runs until the summer of 2025, but these performances naturally put you in the spotlight. Is an early transfer in the summer of 2024 also conceivable for you or is that out of the question?

To be honest, I’m not really thinking about my future at the moment, just about Münster. We have a big dream in mind and that is my full focus. But in the long term, of course, my goal is to get to the top – my dream is the Bundesliga.