RB Leipzig managing director for sport Marcel Schäfer admitted that they lacked respect in the way they handled the recent axing of Ole Werner as new coach Martin Demichelis started at the Bundesliga club on Monday.
“The past few weeks — and you have to be self-critical — have been anything but ideal, simply bad. Period,” Schäfer told the Bild paper.
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 Demichelis, who was unveiled as new coach last week, until it was clear that Werner would leave.
Former Argentina and Bayern Munich defender Demichelis, who was last in charge of Spanish club Mallorca, toured the club's training academy on Monday, naming the conditions "very good, very nice" in a video shared by the club.
Demichaelis arrived on Sunday night, with pre-season training to start in a fortnight on July 13, and Schäfer told Bild he expects Demichelis to deliver.
"We want to win games. That comes through a tactical component, that comes through a physical component. And there is this enthusiasm, this fire, this passion. Martin combines all of that,” Schäfer said.
