Fringer: Di Matteo would struggle in Germany

Former Switzerland boss Rolf Fringer has warned Roberto Di Matteo that German football will not suit his managerial style, with Schalke circling.

Former Switzerland boss Rolf Fringer has warned Roberto Di Matteo that German football will not suit his managerial style, with Schalke circling.

Fringer has been a good friend of Di Matteo’s since working with him at FC Schaffhausen over 20 years ago and has lauded the Italian’s intelligence and ‘social skills’.

However, the 56-year-old has suggested the Bundesliga would not be a good destination for Di Matteo, despite believing he could ‘help’ struggling Schalke.

“I can reassure all German clubs; if he comes to Germany, this will not be his football,” Fringer told Goal.com.

“I do think that he could help FC Schalke. But, I’m not convinced that he would do it.

“There are just clubs who always want too much and destroy everything with it, like Schalke. He is much too sensible that he would be put on such an ejection seat. I do not think he would do it.

“He is a decent guy with good sense. He was equipped with large social skills as a player and was very intelligent at the games, and therefore I am not surprised that he had such great success as a coach.”

Di Matteo won the Champions League and FA Cup double with the Blues last season, and Fringer believes it was a combination of determination and fate that brought the Italian such rich success.

Fringer said: “When he was my player, he was very young. Also the naturalisation in the Swiss national team was a topic, but he did not want to play for them. He always had a goal, a vision.

“He always wanted to become an Italy international. That is over 20 years ago. It was not easy for a young guy from a small provincial town in Switzerland. But, he did it because he really wanted to.

“The momentum was on the side of Chelsea. From the human side and his quality Roberto deserved this fate.

“Even Didier Drogba said after the match in Munich that they won the title for all former players of Chelsea.”