Troubled Hansa Rostock Shifts Gears: Interim Coach Speidel Won't "Reinvent Soccer"
Struggling in the 2nd Bundesliga, Hansa Rostock aims to bounce back from their slump during the winter break with a fresh approach under interim coach Uwe Speidel. The Hanseatic club announced the change at a press conference earlier this week. "We've decided to shift gears for the second half of the season, and that means bringing on a new coaching team," said Hansa Rostock CEO Robert Marien.
Rostock began the season on a high note, climbing to second place with nine points in their first four games. However, disappointment soon set in as they fell to the depths of the relegation zone after 16 matches. The current season has been unkind to the team from Mecklenburg, who have managed just one point in their last three outings.
Marien acknowledged the team's shortcomings, referring to the table as a report card. "We can't deny that, on this report card, we are currently in danger of being relegated. We have our work cut out for us," he said.
Speidel, who has been with Hansa Rostock since January 2021, will take charge of the team temporarily. Known for his work as an assistant coach under Andries Jonker at VfL Wolfsburg, Speidel intends to offer his players time to acclimate to the new situation.
Speidel is under no illusion about the challenge ahead, acknowledging their upcoming match against SC Paderborn. "We won't be hiding there under any circumstances," he assured. "I believe that the lads are confident enough to take their chance, insofar as there is a new opportunity for one or two of them."
With only two sessions to prepare before Friday's 2nd Bundesliga encounter, Speidel is not planning any radical reinventions or experiments. "We're not going to reinvent soccer in these two days. We won't be making any experiments either," said the interim coach.
Instead, the focus is on restoring confidence and trust within the squad. "The important thing now is to give the boys the self-confidence and trust to be able to perform with the right attitude," Speidel concluded.
Sources:
- Marien, R. (2023, February 1). Press conference with Hansa Rostock.
- Stuck, J, & Grambow, D. (2023, February 1). Rostock lies in the Relegation zone.
Footnotes:
[1] Stern.de. (2023, February 1). . Retrieved March 3, 2023, from [2] Stern.de. (2023, February 1). . Retrieved March 3, 2023, from
