Matarazzo looks ahead to showdown with former club, provides update on Berisha situation
The front-office turmoil taking place at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim may invariably spell the end of head-coach Pellegrino Matarazzo's tenure during the forthcoming international break, even if the Italian-American trainer manages to beat his old club VfB Stuttgart in the Bundesliga on Sunday. The 46-year-old gaffer seemed fully cognizant of this fact when speaking at his Friday pre-match press conference.
In point of fact, when praising the organization that accorded him his first chance to serve as a head-coach in German football, Matarazzo almost seemed to be subliminally pining for the type of front office cohesion his current club lacks. Former Hoffenheim trainer Sebastian Hoeneß has enjoyed great success thanks to the stellar work of chairman Alexander Wehrle and board-member-for sport Fabian Wohlgemuth.
"Alex Wehrle and Fabian Wohlgemuth are doing great work," Matarazzo said, "[It's going great] from top to bottom [in that organization] You can tell that everyone is pulling in the same direction, which is always important for medium and long-term success.“
"It's always nice to return to your former place of employment," Matarazzo - who did out a win in his last trip to Stuttgart- went on to say, "I'm sure that a special sense of anticipation will arise once nearing the old ground and seeing the old face."
After his team did furnish a serviceable response to last Sunday's league meltdown with a 2-0 home win over Kiev in the Europa League on Thursday, the TSG trainer heralded his team for taking a "big stride forward as a unit. Per Matarazzo, the team must continue to act "as a unit" in their trip to their Baden-rivals.
One player who - in all likelihood- won't be a part of this new team cohesion is German striker Mërgim Berisha. Rumors that the twice-capped German international would be dropped from Thursday's UEL squad proved correct. Matarazzo noted at the presser that the rift wasn't healed.
“Nothing has changed in the Berisha case," Matarazzo said, "It is up to Mergim to decide when he can rejoin the team. We have to come together and be top in all areas to win on Sunday.”