Wuppertaler SV will face Rot-Weiss Essen on Wednesday (7pm, RevierSport liveticker). The Niederrheinpokal quarter-final is coming up. The WSV is hot against RWE.
Wuppertaler SV against Rot-Weiss Essen: This duel has always been a very explosive game in the Regionalliga West in recent years. In the meantime, RWE has been promoted to the 3rd league – and yet the rivals meet once again: on Wednesday, 7 p.m., in the Niederrheinpokal quarter-finals.
As a reminder: About a year ago, Wuppertal won 3:1 against Essen and reached the Niederrheinpokal final. WSV then lost the final to SV Straelen. Now the Red and Blues are aiming to win the 2023 Niederrheinpokal, but first they have to get Rot-Weiss Essen out of the way.
RevierSport spoke to WSV sporting director Stephan Küsters before the explosive match.
Stephan Küsters, how much are you looking forward to this game?
We’re looking forward to it finally getting underway on Wednesday. The game has been in the back of our minds for weeks. But that’s also human and you can’t erase it from your mind. Because it is an absolute highlight of the season for us. But not only for the players and those responsible: The whole city of Wuppertal is eagerly awaiting this duel against RWE. I expect a crowd of 10,000 plus X spectators. Last year there were almost 12,000 fans.
Keyword last year: To what extent does this match still play a role?
This match doesn’t matter at all anymore! It’s a completely new situation now, including a new coach and many new players. The 3:1 victory in May 2022 was wonderful, but is not an issue before this match on Wednesday. It’s all water under the bridge.
I only remember the 2:4 against Mönchengladbach. The team was celebrated afterwards like never before in my two and a half years here in Wuppertal. On Wednesday, together with our fans as the 12th man, we will try everything to land another surprise against RWE after 2022.
Stephan Küsters
Does WSV actually have more to lose in this game? Because the train towards the 3rd league seems to have left the station. Wuppertal only have the Niederrheinpokal left, right?
I see it differently. At the end of the day, RWE is the third-league team and wants to win the Association Cup as the highest representative in the league in order to enter the DFB Cup. But for us, as I said, it’s a highlight game of the season. Nevertheless, we don’t put any extra pressure on ourselves to win it. RWE has to win, we want to win. That’s how I see it. And in this case, RWE has more to lose.
Together with coach Hüzeyfe Dogan, you recently took a close look at Rot-Weiss Essen against Borussia Dortmund II (2:0). What kind of team is waiting for the WSV?
Essen is a very compact team. They have stabilised and are difficult to break down. Felix Bastians is back in central defence and the boss in the defence. He’s doing a very good job. Ingolstadt has also noticed recently how difficult it is to create chances against Essen. With players like Lawrence Ennali and Isaiah Young, they are fast as an arrow on the offensive. We know the team and are well prepared. And: We also have our strengths and means to put RWE under pressure.
What role will the fans play in this duel?
We all know, let’s put it nicely, that the fan camps don’t like each other very much (laughs). The players know that too. The fans have supported us very well so far. I just remember the 2:4 against Mönchengladbach. The team was celebrated afterwards like never before in my two and a half years here in Wuppertal. On Wednesday, together with our fans as the 12th man, we will try everything to land another surprise against RWE after 2022.
You are also an emotional person. What do games like this do to you?
I love such games. That’s what you became a footballer or a manager for. I would like to have a fuller stadium at the Zoo more often. On Wednesday that will be the case and I’m just as fired up as the players and the fans.