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"Feels liberating": Sandro Schwarz on his return from Russia
Photo: IMAGO/Alexander Vilf / IMAGO/SNA
Russia's attack on Ukraine also marked a turning point in the sports world.
Numerous competitions were closed to participants from Russia, and highlights such as the Champions League final were moved to other countries.
Many players also decided to end their involvement with Russian clubs.
Sandro Schwarz chose a different path.
He stayed with Dynamo Moscow after the war began.
He is now under contract as the new coach of Bundesliga club Hertha BSC - and has now spoken about his commitment in Russia.
In view of the "terrible pictures" from Ukraine, he "felt an inner turmoil," said Schwarz after his commitment.
"Everyone knows my position on this war of aggression."
He stayed because of the people at Dynamo Moscow.
The players, supervisors and club officials there are "good people who have a clear stance on the subject, like all of us here," said Schwarz.
Russian players often sat with him and they "wept together."
"It was about helping the local people."
Schwarz said his decision to stay in Moscow until the end of the season had “nothing to do with sport, titles or financial aspects”.
“It was all about helping the local people.” He felt that he was an anchor for the people at Dynamo during this “very emotional time”.
Schwarz was criticized for staying in Moscow after the Russian attack on Ukraine, especially since his German coaching colleagues Markus Gisdol (Lokomotiv Moscow) and Daniel Farke (FK Krasnodar) left Russia immediately.
"It is not about me.
I feel responsible and will stay here at the club," Schwarz said at the time.
The former coach of Bundesliga club Mainz 05 only announced his departure after the lost cup final at the weekend.
He could understand the controversy surrounding his whereabouts, Schwarz said.
Nevertheless, he is happy to be back in Germany: “Now it feels liberating”.
As the successor to Felix Magath, Schwarz has a contract with Hertha until mid-2024. The Berliners only secured their place in the Bundesliga in the relegation against Hamburger SV.
kjo/dpa/sid
