There will be a lot of talk about the press conference of Dieter Hecking, the new head coach of 1. FC Nürnberg, on 21 February 2023. Why? He took a shot at his predecessor.
After 1. FC Nürnberg’s 0:5 at 1. FC Heidenheim, the “club” parted company with the previous head coach Markus Weinzierl. His successor was quickly found in sporting director Dieter Hecking. RevierSport reported.
And, lo and behold, at his inaugural press conference as FCN coach, Hecking took a swipe at his predecessor Weinzierl, whom he once hired personally. Hecking went on: “I came to the conclusion in the car: It’s not much. We have not only acted despondently in Heidenheim, but also before. The team can play better football than it does. There could be no ‘more of the same’.”
He continued: “When I see our line-up, that we play with four sixes, then that does not correspond to my assessment of the squad. We have ten offensive players. I have a different approach: I think offensive players belong on the pitch.” But Hecking should also ask himself why he once brought defensive specialist Weinzierl to Franconia, shouldn’t he?
Probably not, thinks Hecking, who elaborated on his criticism of ex-Schalke coach Weinzierl, still saying, “I see that we are driving a car into a dead end and the wall is just before it. I’m not one to wait until the car hits the wall.”
So now the 58-year-old Hecking is taking over the “car” Nuremberg and is supposed to lead the “Clubberer” to class preservation. Should this fail, then Hecking’s days as coach and sports director at FCN are probably numbered.
Keyword days: After his dismissal, the 48-year-old Weinzierl expressed his disappointment and surprise to “Bild”. He said: “There was a clear announcement yesterday in Heidenheim that I would be on the bench against Sandhausen. What then happened in the evening and during the night, that Dieter Hecking changed his mind, I can’t understand. In any case, the leading players did not speak out against me.” But sporting director Hecking, who has now taken the helm and lashed out against his predecessor.
