Mülheimer FC 97 is fighting relegation in the Oberliga Niederrhein. The MFC has only managed three wins so far.
A 2-1 win against 1. FC Kleve, a 3-2 win against TVD Velbert, and a 2-0 win against SC Union Nettetal: that’s it for wins in the 2024/2025 season. Three wins in 13 games: that’s a bit poor. Ahmet Inal, coach of Mülheimer FC 97, knows that too.
After the recent 2-3 defeat against SV Sonsbeck, the former professional told Forecasting: “Once again, I can’t blame the boys for much. We’ve given it our all, we’re playing really well, we’re running our hearts out, and in the end we’re left empty-handed. Why? It’s simple: we have a lot of chances that we don’t take, and the opponent comes forward and scores.”
The former striker, who also played in Turkey, seems to be slowly despairing at his protégés’ profligacy in front of goal. However, he does not want to suggest that it is a question of quality. “No! It’s not about quality at all. On the contrary: we have a lot of quality in the squad, we’re just always being punished. Against Sonsbeck, we fell asleep at set pieces. That has nothing to do with quality, but much more to do with concentration,” Inal emphasizes.
We are a very unpleasant team to play against. People don’t like playing against us. So maybe games like the ones against the top teams are just right for us. We have nothing to lose.
Ahmet Inal
But Inal remains combative. After all, MFC is still above the relegation line. “Thirteen games, twelve points: that’s not a good haul. But it’s enough for now. We have five more games before the turn of the year, in which we want to surprise people. Because apart from the game against Kleve, we will be the underdogs in every game, at least on paper,” he says.
It’s clear that Mülheim has a tough schedule ahead of them before Christmas, with games against SSVg Velbert, VfB Hilden and Germania Ratingen at home, SC St. Tönis and 1. FC Kleve away. “We are a very difficult team to play against. No one likes to play against us. Maybe games like these against the top teams are just what we need. We’ve got nothing to lose,” says 42-year-old Inal.