In the first press conference after the winter break, 1860 spokesman Rainer Kmeth pointed out, certainly without any ulterior motive, that Michael Köllner was “still” sitting next to him on the podium, presumably in the sense of: still. Three weeks later it was important for him to first establish that Günther Gorenzel was an “interim coach”. The 51-year-old sporting director is working in a dual role for an indefinite period and explains that he is currently working from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on the club premises of the third division club, has many discussions as a trainer – and also as managing director.
Yes, there are currently talks about Köllner’s successor, but the focus is on the next game, “on the next pass, on the next duel”. When asked several times when a decision could be expected, Gorenzel – obviously consciously – named different time windows. He mentioned the frame of about two weeks most frequently. So: first see how the two away games go, on Sunday at VfB Oldenburg (1 p.m.) and on Saturday at SV Meppen. And then see how creative and willing to compromise the shareholders are when it comes to raising additional money for another employee. On Friday, Gorenzel could not completely rule out the fact that he would continue as a coach until the end of the season.
But first: “No comment.” The Austrian replied with a smile when asked if he was currently in contact with Rüdiger Rehm. He was on leave at FC Ingolstadt almost at the same time as Köllner on Monday. Rehm and Gorenzel know each other well, they completed the DFB football teacher training course together in 2015.
Köllner was in office for a very long time by 1860 standards, well over three years, so a major change is imminent. However, Gorenzel currently has no time to moderate such an upheaval, let alone guide it. The goal of promotion, which he had stated several times during the week, was suspended for the moment. He now wants to “remind the players of their strengths”, they should be convinced of themselves again. Gorenzel rarely gets much more specific in his explanations.
It had been agreed that Willsch and Moll would be part of the squad again from February 1st
But one can assume that he will find clearer words for the players. “You have to address things very clearly internally,” otherwise you can’t change anything, “and you also have to make tough decisions.” So the squad will be reduced for the time being, some younger players will not travel to the far north. At the same time, tried-and-tested regulars, who were not always in the starting XI under Köllner, could return there. Players like Jesper Verlaat, captain Stefan Lex or Marcel Bär, whose goal drought was just as much a topic in Friday’s talks as goalkeeper Marco Hiller’s recent uncertainties. He doesn’t want to single out a player when it comes to the appearance of the past few weeks, said Gorenzel. Daniel Wein and Marius Willsch (both training deficits) will probably be missing in game one after Köllner. Incidentally, it had been agreed for a long time, according to Gorenzel, that Willsch and Quirin Moll would be back in the squad from February 1 if they hadn’t found another club by then – that would have also applied under Köllner.
The penultimate spectacular expulsion at 1860 Munich was 14 months ago. At that time, striker Sascha Mölders was suspended after the team had often acted inexplicably erratic. It is now an open secret that personal rifts had opened up in the dressing room and those responsible were forced to speak up clearly internally and make tough decisions. After that, the team immediately played free and made the autumn crisis quickly forgotten. Günther Gorenzel now says that he is not necessarily acting like the famous “bad cop” at the moment. But between the lines it was clear that he held the players accountable.