President Andreas Michelmann of the German Handball Federation (DHB) reacted angrily to the public criticism of national coach Alfred Gislason.
“You have to ask yourself what empowers club bosses to interfere in the affairs of the German Handball Federation. We don’t do that either,” said Michelmann on the sidelines of the group draw for the home European Championship next year: “If I were Karsten Günther, I would buy a giant broom and sweep my own door first.”
At the beginning of the week, a Spiegel report entitled “This is how the Gislason question splits German handball” caused a stir. In the league, according to the report, “a front” is forming behind the scenes against Gislason as national coach. Karsten Günther, managing director of SC DHfK Leipzig and HBL board member, recently called for the national coach to be replaced after the significant friendly defeats against world champion Denmark. According to Spiegel, Gislason’s personnel split “German handball into two camps”.
Michelmann criticized Günther for going public instead of expressing his opinion internally. “The question is why do I have to do this through the media? Does narcissism play a small role?” asked Michelmann. Everyone in handball knows what you get from Gislason as national coach. Just “nobody who is known for his talkativeness” but is “a rock in the surf”. That’s why nobody should “whine” that he isn’t the “communications world champion”. There is “no reason” to open a discussion about Gislason.
“If I say now that we stand by the national coach, I’ll open the barrel first. There’s no reason for me to raise an issue that isn’t an issue,” said Michelmann: “Apart from the fact that there is no alternative. This is puppet theater.”
DHB sports director Axel Kromer is also “annoyed”. “Because the people who have spoken also have the opportunity to seek dialogue,” said the manager: “I think direct dialogue is the better way, I told him (Günther, d. Red .) made known. I’m always open to criticism and also like to discuss with fellow campaigners. I took note of it through the public, but that’s the level on which I don’t have to discuss.”