Transfer discussion: 'Not a Playstation game': Boldt counters Hannover coach

Hannover 96 is aiming for promotion to the Bundesliga after seven failed attempts, but differing views on squad planning have emerged between coach Christian Titz and new sporting director Jonas Boldt.

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I will make no secret of it. We all know that we still need four, five players in the squad.

Coach Titz stated at the beginning of the team's training camp that Hannover needs four to five additional players. He believes the squad structure is already "really tight" following the departure of five potential regular starters. Titz has a history of preferring larger squads, as seen during his successful tenure at 1. FC Magdeburg.

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Just signing players is not the solution.

Boldt, however, pushed back against Titz's assessment. He acknowledged the desire for improvement but stressed that "just signing players is not the solution." The 44-year-old emphasized that squad planning involves economic considerations, stating, "This is not a Playstation game where you have infinite money or a cheat code." He highlighted that transfers have become an "event topic" driven by public demand for headlines, but insisted that this is not how effective team building works.

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This is not a Playstation game where you have infinite money or a cheat code.

Boldt asserted his ultimate authority in squad planning, explaining that he sets the parameters due to financial realities. He advocated for a "methodical" approach, focusing on identified vacancies and areas for improvement before acting. Boldt also noted that only eleven players plus five substitutes can play at a time, suggesting a preference for a deliberately smaller squad for economic reasons.

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Transfers are an event topic. People long for it, headlines sell themselves. That's not how it works in the end.