"Lausitz-Mourinho" wants a spectacle: Cottbus dreams of League 2

"This guy, he really touched me"

The 60-year-old has been coaching the Brandenburgers for the third time since the 2021 season. For many, he is an irritating figure, even a proletarian. In the podcast "Sport im Osten", he was dubbed "Lausitz-Mourinho" due to his often eccentric manner - in reference to Lisbon coach José Mourinho, who also likes to be controversial.

However, "Pele" Wollitz is obviously in exactly the right place in Cottbus. "I've had a lot of coaches in my career. But this guy, he really touched me. He's a great person. The emotion he gives us in training before the game. Not many people can do that. I'm grateful that I can still have a coach like this in my career," praised former Bundesliga professional Tolga Cigerci, brother of third-division standout Tolcay Cigerci.

Thousands of Cottbus fans will travel with them

Around 6,000 fans are expected to accompany the third-division club to the Upper Palatinate. The rest are likely to gather at home for public viewing. "People are running us ragged," revealed restaurateur Frank Kuban from the Strandpromenade to the Lausitzer Rundschau newspaper. There are only a few places left for Saturday. The game will be shown on seven screens and an LED wall. "You can tell that people are euphoric and proud of Energie," said Kuban.

For Wollitz, there is hardly a team that has had to overcome more resistance than Cottbus. "We have locational disadvantages, we have infrastructure disadvantages, we are at the bottom of the budget rankings. If any team deserves it, it's this one."

Promotion would also be worthwhile for the fans, as Wollitz promised them a special reward as thanks for their outstanding support: "I can also give every fan three beers. I would have the financial means. I'll also give them a bratwurst and put the mustard on it," promised the coach.

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