Wolfsburg coach angry

“Absolutely disrespectful”: Hasenhüttl attacks Basler

Ralph Hasenhüttl (right) did not put up with the criticism from Mario Basler (left).(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Ralph Hasenhüttl can't just leave it at that ... After soccer expert Mario Balser lashed out at one of his players, the new Wolfsburg coach has now retaliated. 

In his podcast "Basler ballert", the ex-professional of the same name came down hard on Kevin Behrens. The center forward was an "average second division player" who would only sit on the bench there himself. "One of the biggest impertinences of all is that such a player is allowed to call himself a national player," said Basler harshly.

Mario Basler sharply criticized Kevin Behrens (m.).(Bild: APA/AFP/Ronny HARTMANN)

"Shows that he is a full professional"
Not okay for Hasenhüttl, the Styrian now put himself in front of his protégé, telling the German newspaper "Bild": "That's absolutely disrespectful. I already know what I have in Kevin. The way the boy is working hard up front and the way he reacted when he found out that he wasn't playing shows that he's a full professional."

Behrens moved to Wolfsburg from Union Berlin at the beginning of the year, but has only played a full 90 minutes on the pitch once since then. Nevertheless, he is an important player for the team, Hasenhüttl made clear. With 31 points to their name, the "Wolves" are currently 13th in the Bundesliga, and thanks to their 1-0 win against Bochum on Saturday, they have managed to escape the relegation danger zone for the time being.