Ricken denies reports of Mislintat-Sahin rift

Newly-appointed BVB managing director Lars Ricken has denied reports that club executive Sven Mislintat may be dismissed from his post in the club's front office. Sky Germany and the Bundesrepublik's "Sport Bild" tabloid both claimed yesterday that internal disputes among all the new BVB bosses could leave Mislintat in line for the axe. Ricken spoke on the matter with Germany's Associated Press, the "Deutschen Presse-Agentur". 

Ricken seemed to acknowledge that there had been some discomfort among all the newly appointed figures in the club's administrative apparatus, yet expressingly denied that Mislintat and new head-coach Nuri Sahin. The club's successor to long-time administrator Hans-Joachim Watzke also insisted that the general mood in BVB training camp was very positive.

"What I had to read on Sunday does not correspond to the actual situation," Ricken told the dpa, "There was no dispute between Nuri Şahin and Sven Mislintat.  He [Mislintat] also didn't censure anyone. We have exceptional conditions here at training camp and a great atmosphere among the team and staff. We feel very comfortable and the atmosphere is a good mix of intensity, readiness and relaxation."