Days of truth for Happy-Bo: how long can Henriksen not win?

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It was over two months ago when the FCZ was in the clouds. After the 3-1 victory on November 25 in Letzigrund against defending champion YB, the team from Zurich salutes from the top of the table. Memories of the 2021/22 season are awakened as the FCZ sensationally stormed to the 13th title in the club’s history under André Breitenreiter. “Is the FCZ a candidate for the championship?” the magazine headlines.

No one at Zurich wants to talk about the title anymore, because the crisis autumn of 2022 has not yet been forgotten, when they fell to the bottom of the table and Henriksen took over the bottom. But there is great optimism. “If we play ninety minutes in every match like today, we will win every match,” says captain Yanick Brecher. Henriksen doesn’t use the M-word either. “It’s too early to talk about it,” said the Dane. “But we showed that we can play against the best and survive.”

Inability and bad luck

Two months later, Zurich’s championship dreams are a thing of the past. No win, two points, 3:6 goals and a drop to 4th place is FC Zurich’s poor record from the last five games. In addition to the inability – the FCZ lost in injury time against Winterthur (1:2) and GC (1:2) – there was also bad luck: when the last-minute goal against Lucerne (1:1) was canceled, Santini was a few centimeters offside . In the championship season, the FCZ won these matches – or at least did not lose them.

“Happy-Bo”, the Dane’s nickname, becomes “Sieglos-Bo”. But for how long? None of the twelve Super League teams have scored fewer points than Zurich since the end of November. Leader YB has run away, but the teams are getting menacingly closer. The FCZ’s lead over that is still six points. Instead of European nights next season, in the worst case scenario there is a risk of falling into the ‘relegation group’ and battling relegation.

An elephant in the room

Despite the sun and rising temperatures, there is no sign of spring in the FCZ. Also because the coaching question has been an elephant in the room for months. Will Henriksen leave this summer – or will he stay? No one now believes that the two sides will agree on a contract extension despite the soothing words. The opinions and sporting visions are too different. And the symptoms of a sports crisis are increasing.

Meaning, if Henriksen remains scoreless, the divorce could be completed sooner than expected. With Ricardo Moniz (59), there would be someone available who has experience as a firefighter. The well-traveled Dutchman is one of dozens of people installed under neo-sports director Milos Malenovic (39). Moniz already served as interim coach at HSV, he was even head coach at RB Salzburg and won the double (2011/12).

Henriksen is still in office temporarily. In just ten days he and the FCZ will have the chance for derby revenge against the rankings. If the Dane still wants to be head coach of FCZ, he urgently needs to win at home against Lausanne (Wednesday) and in Yverdon (Sunday).

Source : Blick