Peter Hyballa does not understand the fuss that has arisen about his way of training at the Danish Esbjerg. The former trainer of NEC and NAC Breda was appointed more than a month ago by the club management, but is already at loggerheads with the player group. The working method of Hyballa would not match the expectations and wishes of the players, wrote Extra Bladet. The allegations against the German coach went far. So far, that Hyballa says she is shocked. Chairman Michael Kjalt has indicated that Hyballa will stay on, but that his approach will be adjusted.
according to Extra Bladet it wouldn’t just be about training it too hard or too often. “Photographing stripped-down players, beatings to players, embarrassment to teammates, verbal torture and a training program so hard that one injury after another follows,” the Danish newspaper recently wrote. “The next big drama in Danish football begins before the season has even started. The arrival of Peter Hyballa has created a huge cultural clash with the squad.”
Four players have since been removed from the selection: Jakob Ankersen, Yuri Yakovenko, Zean Dalügge and Kevin Conboy. The allegations against Hyballa are completely unexpected for the protagonist, he says. “I have tried to introduce a different training style from the start,” he tells the newspaper in an extensive interview. “High intensity, lots of sprints and attention to technique. I’m an emotional trainer. I demand a lot from my players. It seems comical to say it now, but I think the players like this style.”
“Who do you think you are? Just do twenty push-ups,” Hyballa shouted over the training field, among other things. He would also have spoken hurtful words to a player who is too heavy in his eyes. “You have bigger breasts than your wife!” The incidents are known to the players’ union, which has little understanding of the situation. “It came as a surprise to me,” Hyballa continues. “In my world, if a player has a problem with me or has a different attitude than mine, they come to me or someone else on the coaching staff to start the conversation.”
‘It’s language that doesn’t belong and I’ll talk to Hyballa about that’
Two weeks ago, the first allegations against Peter Hyballa came to light.
“But no players came to me. And yet I had a conversation with the players’ union about things I had done. They think I punished players. But I didn’t punish any player. I’m a hard coach and that style is negotiable. Because what is a tough coach? I was totally unprepared. Nobody told me anything. The players’ union could have invited me to the meeting. They only said I was guilty. And then all the articles came. Then the German media came Finally, my mom called and I couldn’t explain what had happened. For me, nothing serious happened.”
Hyballa denies hitting players. “What is a slap? I’ve patted players on the shoulder, is that a slap?” he wonders aloud. “No, I’ve never hit a player. I’ve motivated my players. There are a lot of trainers who do that. I don’t describe it as a slap. But I don’t pat my players anymore either. So thanks for that, Ekstra Bladet, otherwise there will probably be another article about it i’m not stupid if i have to adapt to danish culture i will if a pat on the back is a punishment in danish culture then i’ll stop even if it’s in germany no punishment. Nobody told me the rules. Neither did the media.”