TNT Sports
Raging Hoeness raps Sagnol
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Published 20/05/2004 at 15:29 GMT+1
Bayern Munich commercial manager Uli Hoeness has lambasted defender Willy Sagnol after the French international criticised the club's decision to fire coach Ottmar Hitzfeld. Hitzeld is to leave Bayern when the season ends on Saturday after a trophyless ca
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Hoeness told DSF television late on Thursday that Hitzfeld had failed because he was not tough enough with Bayern's highly-paid players and allowed too many liberties.
Sagnol also told DSF the decision to sack Hitzfeld a year before his contract expired was "bullshit" and he wanted to leave Munich with Hitzfeld.
Hoeness said Sagnol, whose contract runs until 2006, would not be allowed to leave on a transfer for less than 25 million euros.
"Willy Sagnol can smear the consequences into his hair," Hoeness said. "He's going to report back for duty for Bayern Munich on July 1 or he's not going to play football anywhere. There'll be no compromise."
Hitzfeld, sacked on Tuesday, led Bayern to four Bundesliga titles in six seasons, two German Cups and a Champions League triumph in 2001.
VfB Stuttgart coach Felix Magath said on Wednesday he would probably take over at Bayern for next season.
TIGHT GRIP
Hoeness said: "The new coach must have a tight grip and get some of the players moving again. He's got to show them that football is game of movement and criticism is allowed.
"Magath has a reputation for not giving special treatment to big names," he added. "He gets players running and that's exactly what we need, especially because some have become too pampered. We need a decisive cut with the past here."
Responding to criticism that Bayern was firing one of the most successful coaches in a humiliating fashion, Hoeness said: "We have an enormous amount of gratitude for him," he said.
"We're all aware of what a great coach and great human being we're losing."
But he added Hitzfeld "was much too nice and gave the players too many liberties." Hoeness said they had exploited that weakness and that was the main reason he had to go.
"For someone like Sagnol it would be just fine to continue on without pressure and criticism," Hoeness said. "But that's why Bayern didn't win any titles this season and were humiliated with back-to-back 3-1 defeats to Werder Bremen and Stuttgart.
"Everyone could do whatever he felt like," Hoeness said. "Some players are in for a surprise if they think they can continue with such a lax attitude. The pleasant life that some have had won't be there in the future."
Hoeness also criticised Bayern President Franz Beckenbauer for making public comments critical of Hitzfeld before the club's executive board had reached a decision on the coach.
"Franz Beckenbauer's behaviour was not good and the board is not pleased," he said. "He went public with things that were not appropriate. As a result we came under enormous pressure."
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