Rene Wagner appeared irritated and unwilling to let his coaching colleague’s statement go unchallenged.
«May I say something?» asked the 1. FC Köln coach at the press conference after Kasper Hjulmand had finished his statement on Bayer Leverkusen’s derby victory (2-1). «I think that’s not fair to say.»
Hjulmand had previously attempted to explain the first 20 minutes, during which Köln were overwhelmingly superior, by citing various factors, including a pitch that was too dry at the Müngersdorfer Stadion.
«I think we lacked a bit of energy. And we were too slow in our decisions. It’s a pitch without water, and that has something to do with it,» Hjulmand had stated.
Dry Pitch? Wagner Counters Hjulmand
«If you say the pitch wasn’t watered – then that’s not true,» said interim coach Wagner, speaking in English.
After a brief discussion, both agreed on the podium: «It was dry, but not because you didn’t water it,» Hjulmand clarified.
English Translation & Paraphrasing:
1. FC Köln’s interim coach, Rene Wagner, responded with visible irritation to a remark made by his counterpart, Kasper Hjulmand, regarding the playing surface after Bayer Leverkusen’s 2-1 derby win.
Interrupting the press conference, Wagner asked for permission to speak and stated, «I think that’s not fair to say.»
Hjulmand had offered an explanation for Köln’s dominant opening 20 minutes, suggesting that the pitch at the Müngersdorfer Stadion being too dry contributed to his team’s slow start and lack of energy.
Wagner, speaking in English, directly refuted this claim, asserting, «If you say the pitch wasn’t watered – then that’s not true.»
The coaches then engaged in a short exchange, with Hjulmand clarifying his point: «It was dry, but not because you didn’t water it.»