Despite coaching rumors: Eisenach remains "ripped off"

The handball players of ThSV Eisenach are not deterred by the rumors that their coach Misha Kaufmann is leaving the club prematurely. "Of course you hear all that. But we're concentrating on the sport. And I think we're doing that quite well," said backcourt player Marko Grgic after the commanding 31:26 win at 1. VfL Potsdam.

For a good two weeks, reports have been circulating in the media that Kaufmann wants to leave the club after this season. The Swiss had moved to Eisenach in 2021 and had led the Thuringians to the top flight with his creative playing technique.

Gregic had also benefited from this. "I went through his upbringing. I came as an 18-year-old boy and am now 21 and a national player," said the right-hander, who won Olympic silver with the DHB this year. "He tried to give you everything you need and took me a step further."

Last December, Kaufmann signed a long-term contract extension with ThSV until 2027 and currently ranks tenth in the Bundesliga with the club. The 40-year-old recently declined to comment on the rumors surrounding him. "I will only comment on sporting matters. There are always things that come in from the outside, but I'm not going to have any eggs laid in my nest," said Kaufmann in Potsdam.

"Don't see any unrest"

A few days ago, he denied to MDR that his contract had been terminated. "It should slowly stop with the lies, I still have a valid paper here," said the coach. However, he was unable to dispel rumors about a connection to TVB Stuttgart, where coach Michael Schweikardt was dismissed five weeks ago.

Eisenach faces the Swabians on Saturday (8 p.m./Dyn) of all teams and is hoping to pick up the points it needs against its relegation-threatened league rivals to make the leap into the top third of the table. Kaufmann does not believe that the current media coverage will have any influence on this: "I don't see any unrest, but rather a focused and ripped-off Eisenach, who played outstandingly in parts against Kiel recently. Nothing is making them nervous, on the contrary."