On Tuesday, we covered claims from the German media which talked of widespread and growing interest in Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Röhl.
Crystal Palace, Fulham, Leicester City and Southampton were all pushed forward as options for the Championship manager, with the first two entirely dependent on their successful managers being poached this summer.
Röhl has also been linked with Bundesliga clubs and there’s been so many claims in recent weeks that it’s not such a leap to say it looks like it’s being encouraged by the manager’s camp.
Perhaps that hasn’t had the desired impact yet, because he’s now given an interview to RB Live. The Sheffield Wednesday manager began his coaching career with RB Leipzig and the German side is one of the ones he’s been linked to recently.
As part of the interview, Röhl explained how great the fans are that he’s found in Yorkshire and expressed his frustration at Sheffield Wednesday’s outside-chance promotion hopes drifting away as the season went on.
Röhl clearly believes they’ve been unfortunate and used XG as an example: “We actually had an excellent starting position until match-day 40. Then this phase came along, which is why it’s such a “what-if” season. Unfortunately, despite our excellent xGoal figures, the pendulum has always swung a bit in the other direction. We’ve had four late defeats in stoppage time.”
That was a ‘bitter’ experience, explained the manager.
Asked what his future holds and about links to RB Leipzig, the manager said: “I’ve always said that I’m very grateful to Sheffield for the opportunity I’ve been given there. And I’m someone who always wants to develop the club further. And to do that, you have to weigh up how far that’s still possible or whether the maximum has perhaps already been reached under the current conditions.”
Then asked if he’d accept a return to the Bundesliga if the opportunity was offered to him, the reply was: “I always want to work with the best players and compete with the best coaches. The Bundesliga is, of course, a top choice. After all, I grew up with the Bundesliga. But the Premier League is also a dream. I’m currently very excited to see what happens this summer.”
RB Live pressed a little further and asked the Sheffield Wednesday boss if a move to a top European club like RB Leipzig would be the right step for him this summer, given it’d be a big jump from second division football: “If both sides are convinced that you’re the right coach, then there’s nothing wrong with taking the step to a Champions League club. I may have only been a head coach for just under two years, but I’ve been involved in football for a total of 16 years. As an assistant coach in Leipzig, Munich, and at the German Football Association (DFB), I’ve had the privilege of coaching great players, winning the Champions League, coaching at a World Cup, and experiencing a Premier League relegation battle with Southampton. That’s a package that gives me a lot of confidence that I’m ready for any challenge, as long as both sides are convinced of each other.”
That can safely be described as a come-and-get-me-plea from Danny Röhl.
