Matarazzo remains under fire while Völler quashes Wagner rumors
A little later in the evening on the German public television program "Aktuellen Sportstudio", DFB boss Rudi Völler spoke for the first time on rumors that Hoffenheim were actively recruiting DFB assistant Sandro Wagner to potentially replace Matarazzo.
Top tier Bundesliga side TSG 1899 Hoffenheim continue to pay the price for what was largely perceived to be a foolish and reckless decision from the club leadership near the beginning of the current season. With the club garnering so much attention for off-the-pitch issues, the team itself cannot seem to maintain focus. Hoffenheim dropped their third consecutive league fixture on Saturday afternoon. In Sinsheim, optimism ahead of the coming Europa League campaignremains in short supply.
Despite the fact that Pellegrino Matarazzo's were facing one of the league's weakest offenses at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei on Saturday afternoon, Hoffenheim conceded two goals inside of six minutes against Bo Svensson's Eisern Union. Matarazzo - for the first time this season - had three natural centerbacks to deploy in his back-three. That evidently made no difference. Debutant starter Robin Hranac (one of several pricey summer additions) proved a total bust.
Scrambling for solutions, Matarazzo ended up yanking both Hranac and his fellow central defender Tim Drexler at the half. The Kraichgauer were able to fight back and pull a goal back. The general implosion of Hoffenheim many have foreseen nevertheless continues. The Sinsheimers weren't much of an offensive threat in the second half. Svensoon's Union could have scored plenty of more goals. The TSG trainer was unsparing in his criticism afterwards.
"Regarding the first half," the American head-coach told the Sky microphones afterwards, "It was clear that we weren't ready to play Bundesliga football in many respects today."
"We lacked the sharpness that Union had," Matarazzo added at the post-match-presser, "One must look at oneself in the mirror and ask, why weren't we sharper? Why does my opponent get to the ball quicker than myself?"
"Only each player can answer that for himself," the low-toned gaffer concluded.
Matarazzo, once again, fielding questions on rumors that the new club administrative team was already lining up former Hoffenheim striker and current German national team assistant coach Sandro Wagner to take over the TSG head-coaching position. The 46-year-deflected the questions immediately, noting that he would not "add fuel to the fire".
Speaking later on ZDF's "Aktuelle Sportstudio", a German Saturday evening public television staple, German national team manager Rudi Völler also commented on the Wagner rumors. Völler insisted that Wagner remained committed to the national program through the 2026 World Cup. The DFB likes the relatively young tandem of Wagner (36) and Julian Nagelsmann (37).
"We have agreed that he [Wagner] will remain with us through the World cup and coordinated it as such," Völler said, "Of course, he likes entertaining the notion of coaching a Bundesliga club at some point. He will have a great coaching future after the World Cup. [Coaching Hoffenheim] remains out of the question at present."