After a false start and a change of coach at the beginning of the season, 1. FC Bocholt has got rolling in the Regionalliga West – Marcus John explains the reasons.
1. FC Bocholt has arrived in the Regionalliga West. This is confirmed by the latest results. After three defeats at the start of the season, promotion coach Jan Winking had to leave and Marcus John, until then sporting director, took over. Since then, there has only been one defeat in seven games. The 47-year-old explains to RevierSport what has changed.
The main thing, he says, was to stabilise the team, establish familiar playing systems and improve the processes within them. “First and foremost, we tried to play more defensively, but we only partially succeeded,” says John, who still sees room for improvement. The motto: Back to basics.
Defensive compactness instead of offensive hurrah football
The offensive football from the Oberliga has been adapted to the relegation battle of the Regionalliga. Fans and team have got used to the league. “Whereby the last games were also very respectable and we played the goals out well,” John refers to the clear 4-0 in the basement duel against SV Straelen last weekend.
“I told the team beforehand: ‘If we lose this game here, we will be in a relegation battle until March!'” Part of the motivational speech, he said, had also been to remember what makes a promoted team. “Our goal for the season is to stay in the class and no one has stayed in because they were so strong away from home,” the coach had said, making a clear appeal to his team. “We have to get our points at home first and foremost. “
With 12 points, Bocholt are currently in 16th place in the table, level on points with the save bank. In the next few weeks, it’s against places two to eight in the league, including Schalke II and Rot-Weiß Oberhausen at home. “We’ve shown that we can keep up against teams like that,” says John, who is optimistic that they can continue to be successful with the right performances.
“I always pick on the defence, but with 21 goals conceded we are in good company,” he alludes to RWO, for example, who have the same number. “You can see that the league is totally balanced. Little things decide, if you take the first goal-scoring chance, the whole game goes your way. If you miss them but the opponent doesn’t, then you’re running behind.” Next up for the promoted team is an away game against second-tier side 1. FC Köln (Saturday, 15 October, 2 p.m., RS-Liveticker.