Larry Mitchell’s first impressions as Kloten’s interim coach: New skates were needed to start

class=”sc-cffd1e67-0 fmXrkB”>

It was a shock for the players when they heard of the coach’s dismissal on Sunday evening after returning home from Langnau, says Marc Marchon (28). “The alarm bells went off,” said the striker. He does not want to talk about a crisis, but rather about a new start. Captain Steve Kellenberger (36) calls it “a final wake-up call for everyone.”

Sports director Larry Mitchell (56) has taken over from Gerry Fleming (56, Ka). The first thing the German-Canadian needed were new skates. He got it just an hour before the first practice on Monday. “The last time I was on the ice was in December 2017. But you never forget how to skate.” On the third day as Kloten’s trainer, his feet let him feel the new skates.

Yet Mitchell has a good feeling shortly after the takeover. “Nervous is not the right word, but I respected the task of taking charge and providing new impetus.” However, he quickly felt comfortable in his new role. Mitchell often interrupts training to make comments. “I actually talk a lot,” he shows humor in the tense situation, but adds seriously: “I just want to convey my explanation and expectations clearly.”

The dynamics of the vicious circle

Kellenberger and Marchon see it as an advantage that the sports director has taken on the coaching position as someone who knows the players very well and has seen all the team’s games. It shortens the start-up time. Because Mitchell could provide a quick analysis. “He didn’t primarily blame us for what went badly,” Marchon said, “but rather reminded us of what we did relatively well last season.”

The two top players do not blame former coach Fleming that the team has ended up in this negative spiral. Several factors play a role in why something like the power play suddenly no longer works, even though it was a showpiece last season. Lack of success, declining self-confidence, asking more and more questions about everything – a vicious circle whose dynamics can drag even an intact team into a hole. “We could no longer play freely,” Kellenberger said.

What first impressions did interim coach Mitchell get from the players, who no longer have to prove themselves to him in the same way he would with an unknown new signing? «The team was always prepared. There was never an accusation that the players didn’t fight. Now they might be a bit more alert.” Before his first appearance with the Kloten gang, he announced that there would be changes in the position against leader Fribourg.

Source : Blick