Lifting the Veil: Krauß's Unforeseen Absence from Cottbus's East-German Derby
Upon Rostock agreement, Cottbus temporarily suspends player. - Player suspended in Cottbus
Get your popcorn ready, football fans! The forthcoming Third League showdown between Energie Cottbus and Hansa Rostock is shaping up to be nothing short of a barnburner, thanks to an unexpected twist: Maximilian Krauß, Cottbus's offensive powerhouse, has been sidelined after inking a deal with the coastal competitors mere days before the hotly contested game for the promotion spot.
Coach Claus-Dieter Wollitz has pulled the trigger on Krauß's suspension, effective immediately and lasting until the season's end. Wollitz views Krauß's abrupt agreement with Rostock as a slap in the face to the employer, Cottbus, and the team itself. "The timing of Monday? Respectful? I think not," Wollitz bluntly stated, explaining his hardline decision.
During a tense, one-on-one meeting, Krauß (28) acknowledged the contract signing and revealed that the deal had been in the works with Hansa for weeks. "Sure, that's all peachy," Wollitz admitted, but it was the way the news was delivered that rubbed him the wrong way.
As things stand, both Rostock and Cottbus have a shot at clinching the third promotion spot. Rostock sits comfortably in fourth with 60 points, while Cottbus lingers in fifth with 59 points. Only the winner of the Saturday matchup is expected to remain in the promotion race. If Cottbus falls to fifth, they could potentially lose both their shot at promotion and their opportunity to compete in the first round of the DFB-Pokal.
Is Krauß's suspension a calculated consequence of his mother's birthday celebration?
Having joined Cottbus in February 2021, Krauß has become a crucial player, netting eight goals to help the Lausitz team maintain a direct promotion spot for extended periods. Concerned by Krauß's recent plummet in form, Wollitz points to the 24th matchday as the beginning of Krauß's downward spiral.
Wollitz hints at rumors that Krauß deliberately booked his fifth yellow card on the 24th matchday to clear his schedule for his mother's birthday weekend. However, these allegations remain unproven.
The coach also references data suggesting a decline in Krauß's performance, citing analysis of Haching as an example. "According to the video analysis, Krauß demonstrated a drop in speed during two key scenes. When someone runs between 34 and 35 km/h, but in reality is only managing 29 km/h... that's part of the puzzle."
- Football League
- Cottbus
- Rostock
- Hansa Rostock
- Energie Cottbus
- Suspension
- Promotion spot
- Mother
- Employer
- The football league match between Cottbus and Rostock, often dubbed the East-German Derby, promises to be intense, especially with Maximilian Krauß's sudden suspension.
- Triggered by the offensive powerhouse's abrupt deal with Hansa Rostock, coach Claus-Dieter Wollitz has suspended Krauß, effectively until the end of the season.
- With Rostock in fourth place and Cottbus in fifth, the upcoming game between the two teams is crucial, as only the winner is expected to remain in the promotion race.
- During their one-on-one meeting, Krauß admitted to the contract with Hansa, but Wollitz suspects that his suspension may be connected to Krauß's mother's birthday celebration.
- As Wollitz considers the decline in Krauß's performance, he cites video analysis showing a drop in Krauß's speed during crucial scenes, hinting at a potential issue affecting Krauß's form.
