Borussia Dortmund are set to punish Sebastian Rode after the midfielder said on Sunday that the team “fully expect to have a new coach next season.”
Rode, 27, implied that current boss Peter Stoger, under contract until the end of the season, would be on his way out at the end of the campaign.
“We’ll invite him for a conversation and sanction him accordingly,” BVB CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke told kicker.
Sporting director Michael Zorc described Rode’s statement, made on Sky, as a “subjective perception” and told Funke Media: “We did not discuss the issue with the squad.
“Players must not comment on personnel and coach decisions amid a decision-making process.”
Former Bayern Munich midfielder Rode, who has suffered a succession of injuries throughout the season, made just one Supercup appearance ahead of the campaign.
Stoger took charge in December after BVB sacked Peter Bosz following a two-month winless streak in the Bundesliga.
The coach has been tasked with securing Champions League football, but Dortmund could drop from third to fifth if Hoffenheim beat them by a two-goal margin and Bayer Leverkusen defeat Hannover by at least five goals.
Nice coach Lucien Favre has been reported to be favourite to take the Dortmund job from July 1, but the club have yet to make an official announcement.
Stephan Uersfeld is the Germany correspondent for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @uersfeld.
Be the first to comment