MSV Duisburg has been back in training for a few days now. At the end-of-year meeting with the MSV officials, RS took the opportunity to talk to the sporting director.

On Tuesday, 20 December 2022, MSV Duisburg invited members of the press to the end-of-year talk in the Ralf-Pape-Loge of the Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena.

MSV head of sport Ralf Heskamp was also present at the Margaretenstraße. RevierSport spoke to the 57-year-old about the current preparations and also the dispute with SLR employee and ex-MSV chairman Andreas Rüttgers.

Ralf Heskamp, coach Torsten Ziegner just said that he hardly has an offensive outfield player in the squad. Will you present him with a new man for the outside backs at the beginning of the year?

We have an eye open for an outfield player. If we find a player who fits the profile, then we have to see what is financially possible. Maybe it would be an anticipation for the coming season. But with 28 or 29 players in the squad at the moment, we are very relaxed. The transfer window is open until the end of January.

And one man, “Mister X”, who you don’t want to mention by name, is about to leave?

That is correct. We have agreed with the potential club and player that we will not mention any names. We are relatively far along. I can only reveal that it is not a transfer to a league rival.

Will MSV perhaps welcome a training guest in January?

I can’t rule anything out, but again: The squad is currently so big that we don’t need any training branches. But that could always change due to departures or illnesses, and we might invite someone.

How do you currently assess the winter preparation?

We have good conditions at MSV. We were able to turn on the grass heating at the training ground and we don’t have to fly into the sun. You can see that it’s a different preparation than in the summer. There are no new players and the break wasn’t that long. The boys haven’t lost much of their physicality and are relatively fit and well-rehearsed. The coach can already work more on tactics. It’s a pity, of course, that Sebastian Mai wasn’t there from the start and Alaa Bakir suffered a setback. We don’t know when he will be back. That annoys me. Some players were or are ill, but that’s part of the season.

To what extent are you still preoccupied with the dispute with Andreas Rüttgers?

I haven’t dealt with it at all in the last few weeks. At the beginning I was very disappointed because I’ve never experienced anything like this before. The way it came across was extreme. But it’s calmed down now and I’m relatively relaxed about it.

How will the MSV sports director spend the holidays?

We will spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with our families and have a relaxing time. I would also like to take this opportunity to wish all MSV fans a Merry Christmas and a wonderful holiday with the family.