Bosz raises "competitive distortion" issue ahead of Bielefeld fixture
The issue of competitive distortion surfaces once again as the German Bundesliga prepares to restart after the international break.
Leverkusen trainer Peter Bosz couldn't resist voicing his opinion at the Friday press conference.
Peter Bosz must adjust his matchplan after star defender Edmond Tapsoba returned from international duty with Burkina Faso infected with the novel coronavirus. Twelve Werkself players travelled to their national team during the break. By contrast, opponents Bielefeld were permitted to keep their footballers at home.
Leverkusen trainer Peter Bosz couldn't resist voicing his opinion at the Friday press conference.
The varying situations stem from varying policies in the federalist constitutional republic of Germany. Local health departments determine whether clubs may retain a right of refusal for international release.
The issue of competitive distortions was bound too come up again. Intimately familiar with Germany as both a player and a coach, Bosz took care to emphasize he understood the reasons behind the inconsistencies. Complaints were nevertheless in order.
"I've been in Germany for a while and I know that there are different federal states, within which there are different local health departments," Bosz remarked, "and in the end, rules are different for all the clubs. That's not fair."
In point of fact, both Leverkusen and Arminia hail from the same state: Nord-Rhein Westfallen. NRW's regulations do require a five-day-quarantine for travels entering the Bundesrepublik, yet allow local authorities to exercise an exemption for professional athletes. Bielefeld opted to clamp down while Leverkusen granted the exemption.
Bosz's words may amount to little as the upcoming match, with Tapsoba or without him, constitutes a rather large mismatch on paper. The very concept of "competitive distortion" is almost laughable in that professional athletics revolves around talent and money deficits anyway.
Tapsoba's absense does furnish Bosz with a serious quandary, however. Potential replacement Jonathan Tah returns from a nightmare spell with the German national team in horribly shaky form and Alexsandr Dragovic may find himself unfocused after weeks of transfer rumors.
An easy win for the favored side should render all discussions moot soon enough. Should the East Westphalians pull off the upset, an outspoken coach like Bosz will likely be on it all week.