Krassimir Balakow fully trusts his ex-coach Felix Magath with the rescue mission at Hertha BSC. Balakow once worked at VfB Stuttgart as a player and assistant coach under Magath.
Felix Magath’s former companion Krassimir Balakow thinks the coach is the right man to save Hertha BSC from relegation. “Felix Magath is the only one who can master such a hammer task. Who else would even accept such a job?” Said the 55-year-old Bulgarian to “Kicker” and added: “Of course there are no guarantees. But if someone does Hertha can save, then he.”
Balakow and Magath worked together at VfB Stuttgart from 2001 to 2004. After his active career, Balakow became assistant coach under Magath and later became head coach at various clubs. “Whoever follows him will be rewarded. He has made many players great,” said the former Bundesliga professional about the now 68-year-old coach. “The decades of experience from his coaching career,” said Magath, emphasized Balakow: “He’s experienced pretty much everything and knows what’s important now.”
Magath was surprisingly presented on Sunday as the successor to the hapless Tayfun Korkut in Berlin. He has eight games left to prevent the club in the capital from going into the second division. “In such an extremely difficult situation, everything has to be subordinated to football and success. Maximum professionalism is the key. And he will ensure that,” said Balakov: “If you’re ready to perform, it’s not difficult with him. His demands are high, but that also automatically raises the level of every player, if the player wants it too.”