Recent content by Enrico Pucci

Sunday, 19 May 2024 7:24pm "Your champagne, sir," the flight attendant said, proffering a fluted glass of something bubbly. "I didn't ... but ..." I stuttered and took it. "She did," she said and handed Gwen a fluted glass. "Cheers, love," she said. We clinked. We swigged. "Cheers, Daddy,"...

After I got done with the press, a stomped into the away training room. I hadn't decided how I was going address the loss. Maybe I should throw so s***? But for sure our collapse today needs to be addressed. First person I see when I walk in is Jörg, glowering at the players as they sit...

Pretty cold spring afternoon in Leverkusen. Only 3,000 Roten Teufel were allowed in. The Leverkusen supporters were in fine form as they needed a win and help from Hertha. If Hertha beat Schalke (6th place) and they beat us, Bayer Leverkusen were in Europe next season. At the other end of the...

Tuesday, 7 May 2024 12:09pm "F**! We'll have some s*** to spend?" Jörg said. "Ja, for real," I said. I got up and shut the door to my office. Jörg raised an eyebrow. "We need to talk about who is good enough to stay." "Ja," Jörg agreed. "I hope I am." "No, not staff you big daft f***," I...

Monday, 6 May 2024 12:30ish "Hi, Enrico. Hi, Thomas," Chief Scout Olaf Marschall said as Technical Director Thomas Hengen and I barged into this office. "Did you two drink one too many espressos at lunch?" "Why do you ask?" I said. "The burning eyes," he replied. "Either you've got some...

28,000 or so people bought tickets, 15,000 or so club members showed up for an absolute snorefest in the mist. The weather didn't cooperate for our final home match of the season and neither did the players. We're safely in 5th and Wolfsburg are safe from relegation so I guess it doesn't...

Tuesday, 30 April 2024 Avdo Spahic was Man-Of-The-Match, but can't make the Team-Of-The-Week because Union Berlin took it over. Boris Tomiak managed to, though. Sometimes, I don't get it.

Monday, 29 April 2024 2:15pm I'd left my office inside Fritz-Walter right after lunch. I'm reading to Matthew when my phone buzzes. Its ATK. "Ciao, Enrico." "Its Agnieszka," my Head Physio said. "I know. Who got injured?" "Its not exactly an injury," she replied. "Its Nico. He's got food...

Sunday, 28 April 2024 We drove to Strasbourg in France. I didn't even watch the matches. Köln's slide down the table continues and Hoffenheim shocked Dortmund. The weather was gorgeous and so is Strasbourg.

Saturday, 27 April 2024 I invited Jörg Weber and Ulf Kirsten over to watch the matches. I also wanted to talk tactics. In the last few matches, we increasingly relied on long balls out of the back. I wanted to brainstorm how we can begin passing out of the back again. We had Wolfsburg v...

Its the derby against our eastern neighbors. It seems like there are 10k Roten Teufel in the away corner. They are loud. Also, we finally play a match without rain. Its a cool evening for spring which is ideal for Fußball. Muhammed Kiprit had a good week in training and Lorenzo Campana didn't...

Tuesday, 24 April 2024 Marlon Ritter made the Bundesliga Team-Of-The-Week.

Sunday, 21 April 2024 A wet Saturday turned into a gorgeous spring Sunday. After breakfast, Gwen and I took Matthew and Allison to a nature park for a walk. Then we went out to lunch. We made it home in plenty of time for me to watch Leverkusen draw with Mainz. Gladbach ended any Euro hopes for...