RB Leipzig managing director for sport Marcel Schäfer has admitted that they lacked respect in the way they handled the recent axing of coach Ole Werner.
“The past few weeks — and you have to be self-critical — have been anything but ideal, simply bad. Period,” Schäfer told the Bild paper in an interview on Monday.
Schäfer said that he had “a longer, confidential conversation with Ole” during a post-season trip to South Africa and this was to be continued with an analysis after Werner's return from vacation.
“The fact that, for various reasons, so much then played out in public was absolutely undignified, both toward Ole Werner as a person and as a coach. I'm truly very sorry about that. No question about it,” Schäfer said.
Schäfer had backed Werner throughout the season, where they finished third in the Bundesliga and returned into the Champions League.
He said it was "absolutely right" to complete the season with Werner, who despite the success was then axed two weeks ago because Red Bull's global team led by Jürgen Klopp had doubts in him.
Schäfer said his cooperation with Werner was always honest although talks were at times tough while conceding: "It's always about treating each other with respect. We didn't manage that at all this time."
Schäfer added that he didn't start talks with Martin Demichelis, who was unveiled as new coach last week, until it was clear that Werner would leave.
