In order for the club to start such an era, some decisions would still have to be made on the transfer market. “Horst can work well with players who are almost nameless. I also trust him to do that in Bremen. Nevertheless, one or the other experienced players have to be added.” This means that Funkel hits the same notch as on Friday evening after the cup out in Bielefeld Defense chief Marco Friedl: “I have to happen something, I’ve been saying that for weeks. We need more of everything. More quality.” To what extent Steffen gets this quality remains questionable. The transfer window closes in two weeks.
VfL Wolfsburg has signed the largest unknown person on the transfer market. The Dutch Paul Simonis is said to lead Lower Saxony back to international business. So far, the 40-year-old has only worked in his home country, most recently at the first division club Go Ahead Eagles.
“I didn’t know him beforehand. But it is always interesting when a new name comes to the German market,” said Funkel. His mission should be clear: VfL wants to go back to international competition. After a disappointing last year with eleventh eleven under Ralph Hasenhüttl, an ambitious destination. Will Simonis meet the high expectations at his first coaching station abroad?
He certainly has the biggest name among the new trainers: Sandro Wagner is now active at FC Augsburg. Previously, he was a co-coach of the German national team, “there he had a great collaboration with head coach Julian Nagelsmann, and he was also highly recognized in the team,” said Funkel.
“Now he goes to an average Bundesliga club, where the pressure to expect is not quite as high. For Augsburg, this is a very good choice, the club is now more present in public-and that is due to the person Sandro Wagner,” says the 71-year-old. The higher interest in public is also due to the press conferences, in which Wagner often shines through moody sayings. At his inaugural press conference, 40 reporters and reports were on site at the FCA-as many as rarely at the Bavarian club, which has a gray mouse image in the Bundesliga. But maybe Wagner’s radiance will be able to take this image.