Huub Stevens let it be known some time ago that no one has to ask him again. He doesn’t do that anymore. A phone call to Otto Rehhagel wouldn’t make sense either, he has enough to do with managing his fame. Hans Meyer also has no time. As a member of the executive committee in Mönchengladbach, he is completely occupied with suffering with his Borussia. Who is left? Peter Neururer? Christopher Daum?
It will not bother those responsible at VfB Stuttgart and Arminia Bielefeld that they can no longer have these so-called firefighters. The sports directors Sven Mislintat (Stuttgart) and Samir Arabi (Bielefeld) continue to trust their coaches Pellegrino Matarazzo and Frank Kramer, at least for the remaining four matchdays, certainly also for a possible additional round in the relegation. And maybe, should it come to that, even in the second division.
The Bundesliga relegation battle has become a bit of a journey through time. It’s a history lesson for those who want to further their knowledge of the Bundesliga’s past table football-Almanac or the stories of suspicious older people who claim that only three games were previously broadcast in the ARD sports show. It is exceptionally thanks to the hip capital Hertha that it makes the old days visible again. So, dear children, the way this strange man with these strange glasses is fighting the descent in Berlin is how he used to be.
Strengthen a leader! Shave a Regular!
While the trainers Matarazzo and Kramer are concerned with the scientifically correct use of spaces and the depth safety during counterattacks, Felix Magath in Berlin uses the age-old instructions that were once in the emergency kit of every firefighter. Point one: Strengthen a leader! For Kevin-Prince Boateng, Magath has even overridden his fitness fundamentalism and equipped the 35-year-old with the kind of power of attorney that is expressed in signal-like shouting and engaging in rousing duels.
Point two: shave a regular player! Magath removed striker Ishak Belfodil from the squad before the Augsburg game, allegedly because of a lack of commitment. Means: Watch out, you professionals, I’ll take action and show no consideration.
Point three: surprise with the line-up! Against Union, Magath surreptitiously nominated 18-year-old Julian Eitschberger, whom he himself – presumably not knowing his name – only called “our left-back”. In other words: the squad is on the move and I reward training performance! (However, the poor left-back was immediately kicked off the team again after 45 minutes of play). Magath also works through all the other points in the instructions for use – including alternating criticism and praise, leaving one’s own future open, considering tactics as gimmicks – with immense historical awareness.
Will it still work in 2022 to save a generation of soccer players from boarding schools using the methods of the past? Felix Magath’s Berliners will welcome Pellegrino Matarazzo’s Stuttgart team on Sunday, which used to be one of the three sports show games. Today this is transmitted by a modern streaming service.