With the appointment of Alois Schwartz as the new head coach, the storm at second division team Hansa Rostock has calmed to some extent. However, there are still concerns surrounding sports director Martin Pieckenhagen. Angry fans called for his removal after the team’s 2:5 defeat against Düsseldorf. Pieckenhagen’s contract is set to expire at the end of 2023, and he will have to face the fallout from the team’s poor performance.
Pieckenhagen has already admitted to making mistakes, including his misjudgment in the summer signings that the team made. Despite having paid transfer fees for new players, they failed to improve the team’s performance. In the winter, they also failed to bring in any offensive reinforcements, believing that no players were better than those they already had. Pieckenhagen is aware that they need to work through their mistakes, but is currently focused on supporting the coach to ensure they stay in the league.
New coach Schwartz has already started his mission to keep the team in the league with a short training camp. The team has checked into the Schlosshotel Fleesensee, a luxurious 5-star hotel located 90 kilometers south of Rostock, and has been training in neighboring Malchow. The team hopes to improve their performance and face the upcoming challenges of the season.
