Marco Rose ahead of #SCFRBL: “We have to bring the same energy”

With the 5-1 victory in the DFB-Pokal semi-final behind them, RBL will travel to Freiburg again on Friday.

On Saturday afternoon (15:30 CEST), RBL will be looking to secure important points at the Europapark-Stadion in Freiburg in the fight for Champions League football.

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Before the squad set off for the south of Germany, head coach Marco Rose answered the media’s questions at the press conference.

He reported on the squad situation ahead of the clash in the Bundesliga, his view of the recent cup match and his expectations for the upcoming meeting.

Team news

• Xaver Schlager is back in team training and an option for the Freiburg game.
   
• Kevin Kampl was forced to miss the cup semi-final due to muscular problems. Whether the midfielder can play in the Bundesliga match against SCF will be decided after the final training session.

All the latest team news, including updates on Peter Gulacsi and the rest of the team, can be found in our team news update.

Marco Rose on…

…the fitness levels after the DFB-Pokal match against SC Freiburg

• “We’ve had two days to recover and will resume normal training today. The boys have coped really well with it.

  In Xaver, we have another player in team training. We have to see how Kevko is doing, he had some muscular problems, and we will find out the extent of those in training today. Apart from that, we didn’t suffer any major injuries.”

   

…the approach following the cup game

• “I don’t think Freiburg were surprised, they were prepared and knew what to expect. In football, fine margins always dictate the course of a game and with the conviction and consistency that we showed on Tuesday, we turned those to our favour.

  Both sides have the goal of Champions League football, so it is still going to be a difficult away game.

  For sure, Freiburg will adjust a few things. Christian Streich was able to look at a few things, and we also saw a few things in the game that we can do better.

  Freiburg’s style of play is clear, so it’s obvious that we need to bring the same energy onto the pitch tomorrow. The game may play out differently and then we have to react to that.

  We’re certainly going to Freiburg with confidence, but we also know how difficult the task is.”

…their conversion rate compared to the league

• “We don’t worry about statistics like that. As a coach, you always try to find explanations. We were very clinical on Tuesday, because we were confident and consistent in defence and in transition. It’s now about bringing that back onto the pitch.

  The DFB-Pokal is history for now. We know who our opponents are and when and where we are playing. The focus is now entirely on the Bundesliga.

  It’s a great skill to have that rhythm and always be on top in the decisive areas to then go on and win football games.”
   
   

…the importance of RBL’s four in attack

• “These are players who make the difference in certain moments. They are very important to us and we’re glad that they are fit and back to their old strength.

  There are also a lot of guys around them who can also make a difference. Everyone knows how important Willi Orban is, as well as Doudou Haidara, who is in very good form, and Konni Laimer, who is finding his stride again.

  We have a great team and everything is possible when everyone is available. We haven’t had that for a long time. When you have a few absences in the season, you can compensate for that a bit at times, but you really need your top players and we’re very pleased that they can help us in the final period of the season.”

…dealing with the heated atmosphere in Freiburg

• “I don’t think that my team let it get to them in the cup game. We were focused and brought our performance onto the pitch. We gave everything to come out on top at the end even when we were a man down.

  We will therefore not let ourselves be intimidated tomorrow. It will certainly be a heated atmosphere once again.

  I want to say again that the atmosphere was really good and that it’s part of a football match that out of 35,000 people there are always a few who go too far. It shouldn’t happen, it’s unpleasant, but fortunately nothing worse happened.

  Nevertheless, I hope that nothing like that happens tomorrow.