RWE coach in a TM interview
In the summer, Christoph Dabrowski (44) took over the fortunes of newly promoted third division Rot-Weiss Essen. His challenge: to gradually re-establish the traditional club, which had disappeared from the scene for many years, in professional football. After an initially difficult start to the season in the new league, RWE stepped up again shortly before the deadline day on the transfer market, bringing in experienced players such as Felix Götze and Clemens Fandrich, who have given the team noticeably more stability in the last few games.
Before the duel with 1. FC Saarbrücken (from 7 p.m. in the TM live ticker), Dabrowski speaks in the Transfermarkt interview about his new task, the environment and the structures at RWE and takes stock of the first months at Hafenstrasse. The coach, who led Hannover 96 to relegation in the 2nd Bundesliga in May, is optimistic about the future, provides insights into the intricacies of squad planning, explains, among other things, what was still lacking in the initial phase and why in terms of tactics and basic structure, depending on the situation sometimes pragmatism is required.
transfer market: Mr. Dabrowski, at the beginning of May it was clear that you and Hannover 96 would part ways after almost ten years of cooperation. How did the farewell to 96 go?
Christopher Dabrowski: With the win against Ingolstadt, we, the squad and the entire team around it, found a good way to end the season. When you can say goodbye with a win after such a long time at the club, it’s always a good feeling. Of course, there was also a bit of melancholy, because at 96 I was busy in numerous areas over a long period of time. The connection to the team was very good from day one and up to the last moment and we were all able to walk out of it on a positive note – which is not always the case in the football business.
Transfer market: What were your thoughts as you headed into the summer after the last day of play?
Dabrowski: First of all, I switched off and recharged my batteries on vacation, which was also necessary after the intensive seven months before. I was able to unwind a bit, but then it went relatively quickly with a look into the future.
transfer market: How did you come into contact with RWE?
Dabrowski: After the vacation, we started the first talks because some prospects opened up and contact with RWE was established very early on. We exchanged ideas intensively and had very good discussions with those responsible. I knew the history of the club well and regardless of what league I belonged to, the job was really appealing to me, so I accepted the challenge. Also aware of the euphoria in the entire environment, which was of course very pronounced after promotion at such a traditional club and after many years in the lower leagues.
Lindemann to Atik: The players of the 3rd division season
transfer market: Expectations are naturally high in a euphoric environment…
Dabrowski: … and that was clearly noticeable from day one, it felt like many people were already talking about marching through. (laughs) Of course it is very emotional, there are often no gray areas. But that’s also what makes it exciting. And if you’ve watched a game live on Hafenstrasse… That’s really something special, I really have to say that. The air is crackling and there is a lot of passion.
transfer market: How did you approach the new task in the summer?
Dabrowski: Especially in view of the last few years (Note d. Red.: RWE last played in the 2nd Bundesliga in 2006/07 and had meanwhile slipped down to the NRW league) it was clear to me that we have to think and go step by step here. We’re taking these steps now, of course with staying up in the league as the primary goal. For me, Rot-Weiss Essen is by no means a smaller challenge than Hannover was in the situation at the time, and I am also convinced that it will work. A lot of development and development work is required with the aim of stabilizing the club and establishing it in the 3rd division. You can then build on this in the next step and use or further expand the existing potential.
transfer market: How would you describe the club and its structures after the first few weeks? What level is RWE at?
Dabrowski: The club is professionally positioned overall, but we’re certainly not at the limit yet. The environment is dynamic and aspiring, very ambitious and ambitious. People who think conceptually and want to develop work at management level. I have the feeling that the club is managed very clearly and with the certain and necessary calm. The fact that the situation after the promotion and the resulting new tasks are realistically classified and acted very carefully instead of being guided by emotions – that is always the big challenge, even with euphoria in the environment, to continue to follow the chosen path in a straight line.
transfer market: One would think that the counter-example to the current situation at Erzgebirge Aue, where coach Timo Rost was reportedly already in a kind of “final” after 3 points from 8 games against 1860 Munich…
Dabrowski: I can only speak for us and say that we have realistic goals, but of course we are very ambitious and ambitious at the same time. We have the clear aim of playing a stable season and ultimately finishing above the line.
RWE coach Dabrowski on the 3rd division: “There are many 50:50 games”
transfer market: What was the problem in the initial phase?
Dabrowski: Up until two games ago we were bottom of the table because we got off to a less than ideal start – with everything that goes with it. Thanks to the home win against Aue, we were able to fight our way out a bit from the bottom despite the recent defeat against Osnabrück. Now it’s all about staying there, making points and increasing the distance to the lower ranks on sight. That’s one of our biggest challenges in a very balanced 3rd division.
transfer market: How do you rate the league?
Dabrowski: The level is very balanced, there are many 50:50 games and everyone can beat everyone. Ultimately, it’s the little things that make the difference between victory and defeat. It is all the more important to keep a cool head, not to be shaken by setbacks and to look forward to the next task. This is exactly where you are called upon as a coach.
transfer market: You also played an important role with regard to the squad changes that took place after promotion – RWE was one of the most active teams in the league in terms of arrivals and departures. How turbulent was your summer in that regard?
Dabrowski: You have to look at it differently. The challenge for a promoted team is always not to deprive the players of the successful previous season of the feeling that they still play a central role in a league higher. You extend contracts and develop an idea of how these players can also function in the 3rd division – that was a basic requirement for me that I went into the planning with: that the promotion squad forms the basis – plus targeted reinforcements from outside. There is always a question mark in advance as to whether this works directly on the pitch and is reflected positively in the performance. How quickly do players adapt to the higher performance level?
transfer market: What is your impression?
Dabrowski: The first games have shown that one or the other still struggles with the level, physicality and intensity. That was also a reason for adding four more players shortly before the end of the transfer window.
transfer market: With Felix Götze and Clemens Fandrich, for example, also players who brought experience from higher leagues with them – just like Ennali, Wollschläger or Römling.
Dabrowski: Ennali came a bit earlier, I also influenced the transfer because of our past at 96. With Fandrich, Götze and Andreas Wiegel, we brought in players shortly before the end who also know the level from the 2nd Bundesliga or even the Bundesliga. The same applies to Luca Wollschläger, a very talented striker with a lot of potential, who brings a completely different note to our attack with his physicality. Of course, these were all necessary steps to further stabilize the squad.
transfer market: The transfers have also increased expectations on Hafenstrasse. After the Osnabrück game, the regional press reported that in terms of individual quality, you could also play at the top…
Dabrowski: The squad is in place and now we have to try to get the maximum out of it by mid-November. You saw against Aue that the newcomers mentioned can give the team the desired stability.
transfer market: Is this also tactically in the foreground for you in view of the recent more defensive orientation, which some people were surprised about?
Dabrowski: That was a big topic. Of course, my approach is to play active, forward-oriented football – pressing, fast positional and offensive play. I tried to bring that into the pre-season, but you mustn’t overpace, you always have to look: to what extent is the team able to implement it in the current situation.
community
Discuss Rot-Weiss Essen in the forum nowRight this way
Because we had a very high individual error rate in the first few games (Note d. Red.: RWE lost the first two home games 1:5 and 1:4), as a coach you are required to show the team ways and means for more security and stability. That’s why I consequently adjusted the basic structure and tactical approach – and that also bore fruit, insofar as we scored 5 points from the first three games after these adjustments. That was very important. We are in a process that needs to be further supported and developed. And by constantly readjusting the team depending on the situation – both tactically and in the belief that it will work. In some situations, pragmatism is required.
transfer market: On Monday (from 7 p.m. in the TM live ticker) Saarbrücken is now in third place in the table. to Hafenstrasse. how do you go in
Dabrowski: The team has one of the most stable and experienced squads in the league and is also very broad in terms of quality – that shows in the table and accordingly it will be a big challenge for us. But the season also showed that we can be competitive in every game. I remember the Ingolstadt game in which we were 2-0 up until just before the end and then unfortunately conceded two more goals. Nevertheless, we played one of our best games there. Of course we don’t want to walk into the open knife, but we also approach Saarbrücken in such a way that we want to stand up to them in our own stadium, in the evening under floodlights, with positive energy and team spirit. Our goal is to stay above the line and for that we need points. We want to convey that with our game.
Interview: Thomas Deterding
To home page