"Totally out of line"

Uproar over interview: Coach apologizes

Alexander Zorniger apologizes.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Alexander Zorniger's interview on Saturday after the 1:1 draw against SC Paderborn caused a lot of excitement and some head-shaking. Now the Greuther Fürth coach has apologized.

The background: After the final whistle, Zorniger took his young goalkeeper Nahuel Noll, who had conceded the goal with a blunder, apart in a Sky interview. "I haven't been so angry with an individual player for a long time, because it has something to do with the arrogance of these young players," he scolded. And announced: "He shouldn't make that mistake again, otherwise his advisor can call me and ask why he's not playing."

Here is Zorniger's interview:

Now Zorniger is rowing back. He was "totally wrong in his choice of words", he says in a video published by the club on social media. "My emotions got the better of me. That wasn't necessary at all, I went far beyond what I'm entitled to as a coach." He has already apologized to Noll and the entire team.

Here is Zorniger's apology:

"Unbelievable"
 For a coach to criticize his own player in public like that is unusual. The interview certainly made waves.

"Unbelievable such a statement from a coach in public," wrote Bayern Munich goalkeeper Sven Ulreich via Instagram, adding angry emojis.