Ahead of the start in the Landesliga in over a month, SpVgg Steele is already in full preparation. After good performances in the Geno Cup, Dirk Möllensiep is especially looking forward to the training camp.

SpVgg Steele is preparing for the new Landesliga season for two whole months. Coach Dirk Möllensiep sees his team on the right track: “On the whole, I’m actually satisfied. We still have to improve a few things, especially with the newcomers. The most important thing is that we come out of the preparation without any injuries. This year we don’t start the season until 28 August, so it’s dragging on a bit.” To prevent injuries, the players still have a slightly reduced workload in the current phase.

The Essen team is also taking part in the Geno Cup this year, which is currently being hosted by SV Burgaltendorf. The Spielvereinigung achieved good results there and has already reached the semi-finals. This weekend, the team will travel to the Diemelsee for a training camp. The days there are to be used to grow together as a team.

With a view to the coming season, Möllensiep’s orientation does not change: “As in the last three years, we want to secure class preservation as quickly as possible. With four relegated teams, that will be hard enough and the quality of the group has increased compared to last season. There will be a lot of close games.”

Last season Steele had to go through a rollercoaster ride in the table. “At the winter break we were in second place, just one point behind the leaders. In the end, we escaped relegation by a hair’s breadth,” Möllensiep recalls. He wants to avoid that with his team next season.

During the summer break, the Steeler were able to announce seven new signings, while eleven players left the club. The 52-year-old coach’s squad planning is not yet finalised a month before the season: “In this phase you always have the possibility of getting a ring dove.” This refers to players who have not yet received a suitable offer or who have overplayed their hand. “Financially, of course, we are not one of the clubs that can pay huge sums for a player. It is important that newcomers also fit our character. We always keep our eyes open, but in principle we don’t necessarily have to improve on any position,” Möllensiep explains the personnel planning.