Last summer, there was a falling out between Claus-Dieter “Pele” Wollitz, coach of FC Energie Cottbus, and his then player Maximilian Krauß. That has not been forgotten.

Maximilian Krauß has been playing for FC Hansa Rostock since this summer. There was some turmoil surrounding his transfer from Energie Cottbus to the Baltic Sea.

Because the offensive player signed a contract with the coastal rival at the beginning of May, five days before the East summit between the two teams in the battle for the relegation spot in the 2024/25 season, Cottbus coach Claus-Dieter Wollitz excluded his protégé until the end of the season.

Wollitz saw Krauß’s agreement with Rostock as one reason for the player’s previously weaker performances. “I think Monday’s timing is disrespectful to Cottbus as an employer and disrespectful to his teammates,” Wollitz said, explaining his decision.

In a personal conversation, Krauß confirmed that he had signed the contract and revealed that he had already reached an agreement with Hansa weeks ago. “That is absolutely legitimate and fine,” said Wollitz, who was, however, bothered by the manner of communication.

Krauß, in turn, promptly rejected this portrayal. “I am shocked by my coach’s baseless statements. Thank you to the Energie fans for their extraordinary support over the last 15 months,” the 28-year-old told the Lausitzer Rundschau newspaper.

The end is well known. Cottbus finished fourth and missed out on the relegation play-offs. Rostock did too, by the way. On Tuesday, September 30, at 7 p.m., the Lausitzers will be guests on the Baltic Sea for the first time since Krauß’s official transfer. At a press conference in Cottbus, Wollitz was asked whether he would shake Krauß’s hand. “No. The matter, and this is actually rare for me, is over. Holding a grudge is energy-sapping, but in this case, I don’t want anything more to do with this person,“ he said. And Wollitz added: ”To portray me as a liar, even though I only told the facts and the truth… I wish him all the best, both athletically and personally, but I’m done with the subject.”