St. Gallen buzzes: Espen trainer Zeidler defends himself against the report Zoff

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‘So nonsensical. You just can’t take it seriously.” Peter Zeidler finds clear words after the test match against LASK Linz (1: 1) when he responds to a report from the “St. Galler Tagblatt» is addressed. The tablecloth between him and FCSG captain Lukas Görtler would have been cut. Several attempts at discussion had failed. To no longer restore the relationship. “If that were the case, we would not work together like this,” the player also agrees with his coach’s denial – albeit in less clear terms – and thinks that the whole has taken on a somewhat “damaging dynamic”.

Last season caused dissatisfaction

Görtler admits that the media reports are not entirely unfounded. “I can’t stand and say there haven’t been intense discussions.” What appeals to Görtler and what coach Zeidler does not hide: the sporting downturn in the last second half of the season has left its mark. The 6th place and missing out on the European Cup places after ten winless league games in a row required work-up.

The captain may have contradicted his trainer several times. That would coincide with the information from the St. Galler Tagblatt, according to which Görtler had criticized the team’s development, the video study or the preparation for opponents. A bang or a single incident that led to the break is not reported anyway.

Zeidler: «We were not satisfied with last season. And if you want to get better, you discuss it.” It is only in the interest of the cause that after several years of cooperation, things are handled more directly, says Görtler. Blick research confirms that not everything is peace, joy and pancakes is in eastern Switzerland. President Matthias Hüppi told the “NZZ”: “We are not on a planet of the blessed. We also rub against each other.”

The former TV man is unconditionally behind his coach. I honor Hüppi’s commitment, but the unnecessary extension of the contract with Zeidler at the beginning of the year to 2027 also carries risks. In a company where the average tenure of a coach is not much longer than one season, it is normal to see signs of wear and tear after five years of working together. Christian Streich, Urs Fischer and Pep Guardiola are the exceptions that prove the rule.

Season target Europe

Hüppi’s problem is that the sporting development under Zeidler has come to a standstill. After the excellent 2019/20 season and reaching the cup finals in 2021 and 2022, the team stagnated. Opponents have become accustomed to St. Gallen’s style of play and their counter-pressure, especially when the East Swiss have to dominate the game, they show problems. They lost three of four games against newly promoted Winterthur.

A two-day hike in the Alpstein should mend any gap between the leading players and the coach. For a common goal: the step to Europe. This also unites Zeidler and Görtler, even if they do not always have the same opinion. However, how long the truce lasts depends very much on the start of the season. If this does not go according to plan, St. Gallen should really start to bubble.

Source : Blick