With Magnin back to the YB DNA: “My mission is to retain the title here”

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The task for the new YB coach is clear. “My mission is to retain the title here,” says Joël Magnin (52). After three defeats in a row, the YB bosses pulled the cord at the beginning of this week and said goodbye to Raphael Wicky (46). Now an internal solution should get the YB ship on track by the end of the season, although this backfired two years ago. At the time, David Wagner parted ways in early March, but the results did not improve under his successor Matteo Vanetta.

For the previous U21 coach Magnin, the call from sports director Steve von Bergen and sports manager Christoph Spycher came as a surprise on Monday: “I was happy that they thought of me.” The current U21 coach must turn things around as quickly as possible. And with the return to the YB DNA; with attacking, courageous football that has made the Bernese the ultimate player in the competition in recent years.

Positively surprised by the team

Magnin immediately starts talking to the players to build trust. On the field he doesn’t change much in the first training sessions, “small, simple things”. Back to basics is the motto. He does not believe the team has a quality problem after leaving in the winter. “I am positively surprised by the team.” Maybe some players don’t have a big name in Switzerland yet. “Now it is up to us to transform the existing potential into a strong collective and bring it to the field.”

Goalkeeper David von Ballmoos speaks of “a breath of fresh air” that Magnin brings in, captain Fabian Lustenberger of “new energy”. But now the players also have a responsibility. “Everyone has a duty to invest more again. It starts from scratch,” says Lustenberger. From the captain’s perspective, there are several possible explanations for the sporting low point: the departure during the winter break, injury-related absences, individual players in a crisis of form. “But we would do well not to vilify everything we have done well in recent years.” After all, they still have everything in their own hands.

Head coach after the summer?

YB is still one point ahead of Servette in the rankings – and should stay that way until the end of the season. This is Magnin’s mission, but also his opportunity. What happens to him next? “The intention is that I will be a U21 coach again from the summer onwards. But we all know that football is very fast.” Does he dream of a long-term position as head coach in the Super League? Magnin smiles and says: “My biggest dream is to become a champion.” With YB. In May.

Source : Blick