Union Berlin’s successful manager Oliver Ruhnert is currently not interested in returning to FC Schalke 04 for the vacant post of sports director.
“Schalke, we’ve had this issue before, there has certainly been an opportunity, I like this club, I will remain a member of this club until the end of my life, because somewhere there is a Schalke heart, just like a Union heart now there. I love these clubs and I love the people there. It’s not far from my home either. But in the end, now is not the time to discuss that or strive for that because I feel very comfortable here because there aren’t any There is a need,” said Ruhnert on “Bild TV”.
Before his engagement in Berlin, Ruhnert was chief scout and director of the successful Knappenschmiede youth department at the Royal Blues. Rouven Schröder resigned from Schalke on October 26.
Leicester City 2.0? Ruhnert waves it off
Meanwhile, Ruhnert rejects a comparison of 1. FC Union, which was unexpectedly successful in the Bundesliga, with Leicester City, who sensationally won the championship in England in 2016.
“It’s a different situation than it was in Leicester, but it was also a small club. I think it’s completely legitimate and good for football that a Leicester story repeated what modern football means in big football -Nations no longer seems possible,” said Ruhnert.
He still recognizes the charm of the story: “People should dream and discuss, that’s the nice thing about it. Nevertheless, I believe that everyone is realistic enough that a Leicester like this will probably happen once in 100 years.”
Kruse deal “not the worst”
Transfer rumours, such as FC Barcelona’s alleged interest in midfielder Rani Khedira, meanwhile leave Ruhnert cold. “If that’s the case, we would look into it,” he said.
The Irons had handled Max Kruse’s farewell to VfL Wolfsburg in a similarly rational manner last season. In Berlin there would also be no resentment against Kruse, who has now been suspended by Lower Saxony. “We didn’t have a problem with Kruse. Quite the contrary. Max Kruse integrated well. I’m glad Max was here,” said Ruhnert.
The sale to Wolfsburg “wasn’t the worst deal for us.”