The Ironclad Suspension: Krauß Benched Over Rostock Deal
Rostock's agreement leads to Cottbus suspending a team member. - Cottbus temporarily suspended athlete from participation
Get ready for the East derby showdown! The Third League matchup between Energie Cottbus and Hansa Rostock is heating up, but things are a tad knotty. Star offensive player Maximilian Krauß, a Cottbus mainstay, has been given the axe due to his recent deal with their arch-rivals Rostock. Cottbus coach Claus-Dieter Wollitz has squashed Krauß from the team until the season's end.
Wollitz finds the timing of Krauß's Rostock deal on Monday, five days before the East derby for promotion, disrespectful towards both Cottbus and his teammates. "Petty timing, I'd say," Wollitz stated, highlighting his displeasure.
In an exclusive convo, the 28-year-old Krauß admitted the contract signing and let it slip that he had already agreed with Rostock weeks ago. "Fair game," Wollitz conceded, though he was peeved by the lack of transparency in communication.
Both Rostock and Cottbus are still in the running for the third promotion spot. Rostock is fourth with 60 points, while Cottbus is fifth with 59 points. The winner of the impending clash on Saturday is most likely to remain in the playoff race. If Cottbus falls short and settles for fifth place, they'll lose their shot at promotion and their berth in the first round of the DFB-Pokal.
A Suspension Shrouded in Mystery?
Krauß joined Cottbus last February. This season, he's bagged eight goals, playing a crucial role in keeping them on the promotion track. However, Wollitz noticed a drop in Krauß's performance since the 24th matchday, which he suspects was the moment Krauß made the decision to switch to Rostock.
Wollitz alleged that Krauß intentionally picked up his fifth yellow card on the 24th matchday because that weekend, when they played in Stuttgart, his mother was supposed to have a birthday.
According to the coach, data analyses support this notion. "For instance, our video analysis of Haching. I highlighted two scenes where the player was the focal point. If someone's zooming at 34-35 km/h but actually moving like a snail at 29 km/h... that's part of it," Wollitz continued.
- Energie Cottbus
- Hansa Rostock
- Suspension
- Promotion spot
- Mother
- Employer
[1] No evidence suggests Krauß's suspension was related to his mother's birthday.[2] Sources cite Wollitz's comments on the suspension being due to poor performance and timing.[3] The suspension has sparked criticism and concern, particularly regarding the impact on the team and the perceived lack of respect towards Cottbus.
- Despite rumors, there's no indications that Maximilian Krauß's suspension from Energie Cottbus was due to his mother's birthday.
- The suspension of Maximilian Krauß, who had agreed to join Hansa Rostock weeks prior, has stirred up criticism and concerns over its impact on the team and the perceived lack of respect toward Energie Cottbus.
- Coach Claus-Dieter Wollitz attributed Krauß's suspension to poor performance and its untimely announcement, coming five days before the East derby for promotion.
- The East derby match between Energie Cottbus and Hansa Rostock promises to be intense, as both teams vie for the third promotion spot with Rostock fourth and Cottbus fifth in the Third League standings.
