Was the change of coach at FC Basel worth it?

class=”sc-29f61514-0 kHgAwW”>

In a week’s time, Heiko Vogel will be history as interim trainer and successor to Alex Frei. Then a wild ride comes to an end: rising to the semi-finals of the Conference League – and falling back into the Super League. Slowly but surely the question arises: was the coach change at FC Basel worth it?

When Alex Frei had to leave in February after 19 matchdays, the Reds were in 7th place in the Super League, three points behind 5th place, which entitles them to qualify for the Conference League. And seven points behind second place, the goal for Champions League qualification and the goal of the season declared by the club management during the winter break. In the Conference League, Basel was in the sixteenth finals and was also represented in the cup.

In the total of 34 games under Frei, FCB scored an average of 1.53 points. In the Super League, however, it was only a meager 1.19, ultimately the main reason for the dismissal. Which was justified by the club management with “lack of belief in improvement”.

European Cup successes surpass Krebsgang in the Super League

Vogel, who actually returned to Basel in the winter as head of sport, took over and immediately won the first leg against Sion (3-1). The start of a catch-up in the core Super League business? No!

Under Vogel, FCB could only shine regularly in the Conference League, but apart from the prestige and the UEFA bonuses, you can’t buy anything from reaching the semi-finals. The successes against Trabzonspor, Bratislava and Nice and the razor-sharp loss against Fiorentina overshadowed the fact that red-blue got nowhere in the Super League under Vogel.

The 1.4 points per league average so far is a better value than under Frei. In absolute figures, however, Vogel’s gap in second place has increased from seven to eleven points. The original goal for the season is to finish two games before the end. Likewise place 3. The new minimum goal is the jump to Conference League qualification, for which Basel must finish fourth or fifth.

In total, FCB has so far averaged 1.52 points in the 25 matches under Vogel. Statistically, the change of coach was not worth it. If Rood-Blauw secures an international starting place in the remaining two matches against Servette and GC, the horror scenario will in any case be averted. Because without European Cup income in the next season, the bad financial situation would worsen.

Regardless of whether it will be 4th place in the best case or 8th place in the worst case. One thing is already clear: Frei and Vogel are responsible for FC Basel’s worst season in the history of the Super League in terms of points and ranking.

Source : Blick