RWE wants to follow up the 2-1 win at BVB’s U23 with a win over 1. FC Saarbrücken on Sunday (October 22, 4:30 p.m.). Possibly with Leonardo Vonic in the starting eleven.

Rot-Weiss Essen has scored eleven goals in ten third league games so far. So far, so good. But RWE is still looking for a real goal scorer in its ranks. Because with Torben Müsel, only one RWE professional has managed to score two goals so far. The other nine red-white goals were scored by nine different players.

Strikers Ron Berlinski and Moussa Doumbouya also have just one assist (Berlinski) and one goal (Doumbouya) to their name. The third attacker in the group, Leonardo Vonic, is even waiting for his first personal success. So far, he has scored just four goals in the Lower Rhine Cup.

The 20-year-old Vonic actually has a lot to contribute to becoming a real goal scorer. After all, the Croatian-born player scored a whopping 22 goals in the last Bavarian Regional League season in 2022/2023. Before that, he scored 19 in the U19 Bundesliga. In other words, Vonic scored 41 goals in two years of competitive play.

Lately, in the 2-1 win at Borussia Dortmund II, Vonic was at least allowed to start from the beginning for the first time in this third league season – perhaps this will be followed by the first Vonic goal for RWE on Sunday (October 22, 4:30 p.m.) against 1. FC Saabrücken. Forecasting spoke to the Essen offensive hopeful ahead of the game.

Leonardo Vonic, were you actually surprised when Christoph Dabrowski announced the team lineup against Borussia Dortmund II?

Of course I was very happy, I’ve been working towards this for a long time. I think that the performance in Dortmund was also quite decent.

You’ve always played in the years before. How do you deal with a role as a supplementary player after changing clubs?

It’s not easy to deal with, but as a young player you also have to be patient. You always have to look for the reasons within yourself. Looking in the mirror helps. It’s simply best to keep going at full throttle, and the rewards will come at some point. But I already knew in the summer that as a young player, I certainly wouldn’t become a regular right away. You have to work for it and earn it.

You’ve scored more than 40 goals in two years, but you’re still waiting to score a league goal for RWE. Is scoring goals in the 3rd League more difficult than in the Regionalliga or U19 Bundesliga?

Of course it’s different. The goals are the same size. But in every higher league, the opponents and goalkeepers are better. That’s obvious. But even so, I haven’t forgotten how to score goals. Once the knot bursts, goals will follow. I’m convinced of that.

When a striker goes so long without scoring, what does that do to you? Is there such a thing as sleepless nights?

I’m a player, a type of person who thinks a lot. On the one hand, that’s my strength, but it’s also a weakness. Maybe I need to loosen up a bit more in that respect.

After working in Hesse and Franconia, how do you like living in the Ruhr region?

I live in Essen and I like it here. There are really cool people and places here. I like to go out for a cup of tea with the guys in Rüttenscheid.

And Rot-Weiss Essen: What do you say about your new employer, the conditions, the fans?

The fans in Essen are definitely even crasser than I imagined. In Nuremberg, I only played in front of a hundred spectators. But it’s true: The RWE fans are something special. I can feel that firsthand and can only confirm all the stories. In terms of the conditions, it’s just like a real professional club in Essen, and RWE doesn’t have to hide.

You have already played for the U20 national team in Croatia. Will further call-ups follow, are you in contact with the coach or the association?

The national team is always a topic for me as a Croatian. But at the moment I’m not an issue for the national coach because I haven’t had that much playing time in recent weeks. Maybe he’ll call me again in the future. That will depend on me, my appearances and, at best, goals in the 3rd League.

A Croatian has also been RWE’s team captain for a few days now. Is Vinko Sapina a special contact for you?

I get on very well with many players. But I have a very special bond with Vinko. We are compatriots and he is a kind of big brother to me.

RWE has been on a roller coaster ride in the 3rd League so far – it’s been up and down. How strong is this team in reality?

The team really has a lot of potential. We showed that against the best team in the league, Dynamo Dresden.

What is still possible this season for Rot-Weiss Essen?

If you beat Dresden, then you can beat any other opponent. If we play to our potential and give everything we’ve got, we’ve got a chance against any team. In any case, I’m never satisfied and I’m so self-confident that I always strive for the highest in the sport.

How many goals do you aim to score by the 38th matchday?

I hope it ends up being double digits. That’s my goal.

On Sunday comes the 1st FC Saarbrücken. Will Leonardo Vonic be in the starting eleven again?

I hope so (laughs). But the coach is still keeping a low profile.