The first weeks in yellow-black seem to have rubbed off: David Wagner opens the season preview media conference in Wankdorf with a laugh with a “Sali”. The German-American is slowly getting closer to the «Bärndütsch». In general, he was very taken with the region around his new job. “What I’ve seen so far has been wonderful,” says the 49-year-old.
There would be idyllic Gstaad, where YB completed the training camp – and learned the basics of football under the new coach. Wagner emphasizes that he is not satisfied with the preparation so far. But that has primarily to do with the fact that this adjective does not even appear in his vocabulary – «because I’m never really satisfied». Rather, he “agrees” with what the team has shown so far: “I found a team that is very open to innovations, that is willing to learn and motivated. It’s a lot of fun to work here. “
He knows pressure – from his time at Schalke
He thinks that the next YB championship title – the fifth in a row for the club – is expected from him is “perfectly fine”. Probably also because he is simply used to such pressure situations from the past. Whether in Huddersfield, where he experienced three successful but also intense years of promotion and relegation struggles. Or at Schalke, where, after a strong start, he felt the huge Bundesliga pressure up close when the Royal Blues began to crash.
Regarding the YB starting position, Wagner says: “We are all very ambitious here, but we also know that nothing happens with just talking. There is hard work waiting for us. ” Sports director Christoph Spycher also says: “In order to win the title again, we have to do even more than in previous years.” With Wagner, however, YB is “on the right track” to start the season successfully.
But what specifically changes under the man who maintains a close relationship with Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp (“We usually hear each other weekly”) and was even his best man? Spycher explains that the YB performance under Wagner is “offensively oriented” and will be characterized by “speed, fast ball circulation, tough duels and high intensity”.
Wagner himself adds: “We want to radiate aggressiveness. And we want to get to the point where we can say: We only concentrate on our game, no matter who is facing us. “
Is Nati-Star Fassnacht still going?
Everyone in Bern is aware that there is still a lot to be done in terms of personnel – European Championship driver Christian Fassnacht in particular has played himself in the spotlight. Spycher expects “even more movement on the transfer market” in the next few weeks.
But he also indicates that in such a case, he is ready to strike himself. With the latest addition, Alexandere Jankewitz (from Southampton), they have also created more opportunities in the central midfield.
How fast the injured top performers Jean-Pierre Nsame and Fabian Lustenberger will progress remains to be seen. The YB bosses are no longer counting on them in 2021 – “at least not fixed”, as Spycher says.
Wagner’s new place to stay will be fixed for next month. “Then I can move into my accommodation – in Wabern,” he says. And that he already knows a bit about geography is proven by his answer to the question of whether the passionate skier has already chosen a winter excursion destination. With a grin he says: “I’ve already heard that you can reach good ski areas an hour away from Bern.”