Matarazzo confirms Berisha’s return to the TSG squad

TSG 1899 Hoffenheim head coach Pellegrino Matarazzo has confirmed the return of German striker Mërgim Berisha to the team after a dispute just before the international break.

Matarazzo credited newly appointed sporting director Andras Schicker with helping and spoke about keeping the team’s momentum going into this weekend’s league match against Bochum.

After a row that saw him left out of Pellegrino Matarazzo’s Europa League squad in the week leading up to the international break, German striker Mërgim Berisha is once again an option for the TSG coach going into the weekend. Matarazzo confirmed the return of the two-time international to the team during a press conference on Friday.

Matarazzo credited newly installed athletic director Andras Schicker with helping resolve the dispute. Schicker’s appointment also serves as a new lease for Matarazzo personally. The Sinsheim club emphasized that the new club administration structure is intended to support the American trainer’s coaching regime.

“Mergim Berisha may return,” Matarazzo said on Friday. “Yesterday he took part in the full team training again. He (Berisha) used the time off well to reflect and refocus on our shared team goals.”

“There were several conversations (about Berisha’s situation),” Matarazzo continued, “sometimes in pairs and sometimes in threes. Andras Schicker played an active role, we are all happy that he is back.”

“As for his current status (against Bochum), that remains after a one-on-one conversation between me and the player,” concluded Matarazzo. “I’m very happy that Andras is here. We hope to maintain the atmosphere we had this weekend (against Stuttgart).”