Landesliga team Adler Union Frintrop has won the MWB Cup. Nevertheless, there are currently construction sites. Coach Marcel Cornelissen explains.
Adler Union Frintrop celebrated their first title in the still young preparation last Saturday. In the MWB Cup final, the relegated Oberliga team beat future league rivals SG Schönebeck 4:2. Adler Union had previously defeated Rot-Weiss Mülheim (7:0) and Schwarz-Weiss Alstaden (8:5) in the tournament.
Despite the success, head coach Marcel Cornelissen, who managed to get through with Frintrop before they were relegated, is not satisfied with the current state of preparation:
“Unfortunately, there is little positive to report. This has actually been the weakest preparation so far since I’ve been coach here. The win against Schönebeck in the MWB Cup was the only upside, and the second half was a real sign of things to come. Unfortunately, we have a lot of people on vacation for weeks, which is rather unusual for us. We also have a lot of injuries. Unfortunately, some players have been delayed. That’s extremely difficult and bitter for us.”
The Cornelissen squad will play four more test matches and the Lower Rhine Cup match at Sportfreunde Neuwerk before the 2023 champions begin the national league season. Adler Union will then host BW Mintard in the regional league opener on August 16.
Our primary goal is to get 14 or 15 players in a state league-ready condition for the first matchday. For the rest, it will be almost impossible.
Marcel Cornelissen
Cornelissen looks ahead: “Our primary goal is only to get 14 or 15 players in a state league-ready condition for the first matchday. It will be almost impossible for the rest. Nevertheless, we have a high level of individual quality, especially in offense, and scored 25 goals in four test matches after the RWO game. But we have to do a lot in defense, unfortunately we can’t train as planned.”
Of the six central defenders in the squad, only two or three players are currently available to the 36-year-old. When asked whether the club will be active on the transfer market again, Cornelissen replied: “Transfers are no longer planned. If something comes up defensively, then we’ll see. Nothing more will happen offensively. “