Babbel rubbishes Schalke link

Hertha Berlin manager Markus Babbel has rubbished claims he met with Schalke’s sporting director about a move to the Bundesliga rivals.

Reports in Germany suggested Babbel met with Horst Heldt at a hotel the day after Hertha’s defeat to Schalke last Friday, where the pair talked about his future – a claim that has been described as ‘nonsense’.

The former German international admitted he was at the hotel in question but did not engage in lengthy discussions with Heldt.

“Between us there are no discussions so there is nothing to reconcile. Everyone knows what the plan is, so there’s nothing else to say,” Babbel said.

“It’s annoying when lies are written, with ludicrous stories, but I feel sorry for parties involved that are at clubs that have to apologise for not having decided what to do.”

“It’s hard. But what are you supposed to do? When my car is seen in front of the Schalke club hotel and I am supposed to have spent the night talking to Schalke, which isn’t the truth and is nonsense, you just have to put up with it – how can you fight back against such nonsense?”

Babbel led Hertha to promotion last season, with the capital club sitting 11th in the Bundesliga.

Schalke are third under the stewardship of Huub Stevens and only three points off league leaders Bayern Munich. Stevens returned to the club to sign a two-year contract at the end of September, after the resignation of Ralf Rangnick.