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In November it seemed that Patrick Fischer (48) was the victim of a delaying tactic. There was a risk that a contract extension would be subject to conditions such as participation in the semi-finals of the next World Cup in May 2024 in the Czech Republic.
Conditions that would have been unrealistic if the NHL national team once had hardly any players available. There was therefore a risk that Fischer would have to go to the World Cup as a “lame duck”. And that a contract extension would have somehow become invalid because Fischer would have been forced to look for a new job and may have already found it.
Change of opinion among decision makers
But after Blick called for a clear announcement from Fischer instead of slowing down the tactics and, among others, his prominent predecessor Ralph Krueger (64) publicly advocated a contract extension (“his knowledge of the national team is unbeatable”), it was the decision made -makers now came to terms with it. The board of directors and the national team committee have clearly changed their minds.
The man who led the national team to World Cup silver in 2018 and most recently to six World Cup quarter-finals in a row should be retained and have his contract extended as soon as possible. Nati director Lars Weibel (49) told Blick: “Yes, I have been given the green light to negotiate a new contract with Patrick Fischer until the 2026 World Cup.” The ink on the new working paper for the home World Cup in Zurich and Fribourg in just under two and a half years should be dry before the next World Cup in May 2024. Certain exit clauses should be part of the contract, but these still need to be negotiated in detail .
Fischer puts players under pressure
There are certainly no negotiations taking place these days. Because Fischer has completely different plans. He wants to leave a good impression with the national team at the home tournament in Zurich, the Swiss Ice Hockey Games as part of the Euro Hockey Tour, from Thursday to Sunday. And correct the bad impression we got during the Karjala Cup in Finland in November. “We definitely want to show a reaction,” he clarifies. And he also says very clearly: “Some players have failed at the Karjala Cup, and they know it.” There is now a second chance in Zurich.
But Fischer’s patience will probably be manageable, “there is a stronger wind now,” he clarifies. This is one of the measures after the last lost World Cup quarter-finals. The team needs to be challenged with clear announcements and put under constant pressure to better cope with the pressure of a World Cup quarter-final. On Thursday, at the start of the Swiss Ice Hockey Games, there will be an exciting test of how the players deal with pressure situations. The national team will face feared opponents Sweden – against whom Switzerland has lost their last 13 matches.
Source : Blick
I’m Emma Jack, a news website author at 24 News Reporters. I have been in the industry for over five years and it has been an incredible journey so far. I specialize in sports reporting and am highly knowledgeable about the latest trends and developments in this field.
