People don't know it, but I'm quite funny

Does the national team like a club team? Are the same characters, the same values?
Generally, hockey teams are always similar. There are different types of the cabin: the Clown, the Quiet, the Crazy. That is a good thing. It would be extremely boring if we were all the same. Each team lives from its diversity. The difference to the Club is: The Motivation is always extremely high. The players want to make it into the Team, and if you are in the squad, it's about the honor of medals to their role. I sometimes hear that I could motivate the players well. But I don't have to. In the Club, it's different: When October comes, the November, the games number in the 25 to 35 are pending, it is not easy, the Level high to keep. As is joked about in the run-up to Christmas, the players are employed more and more in order to buy gifts.

Speaking of gifts: you may this time get some more Christmas presents. Of players, who want to impose for the home world Cup.
no. I get no Christmas gifts from players. We don't need bootlickers. And we also have no. The players have it in your hands whether you make it to the world Cup with their services. We always say: The responsibility lies with you.

you have nights of no sleep, before you delete someone from the squad?
sleepless nights. But the last cuts are always the most difficult. Prior to these discussions, I have a queasy feeling. Because mostly relate to players who were three, four weeks, a good world Cup preparations have been made. I mention the example of Tristan Scherwey: I sent him from Moscow and Paris, respectively, as the last striker home. I knew I'd destroy him in a dream. All the better that he managed to do it then in the following year.

"After each game, the honored, the has worked the hardest."

when to begin team building?
When I as a coach, we stepped up this very topic. It had been too many Cancellations. Before Moscow we tried to Wake up the understanding that we are represented role models, our country. In the meantime, the Situation has been for Good transformed. Before a world Cup, we go on-site together to eat, a drink as well, two Beers. In this relaxed atmosphere, we determine which Goalsong we want to, what to run in the cabin. After each game, will be honored who has worked the hardest. In Copenhagen, a military helmet and circulated in Paris a Tomahawk.

Fischer's greatest success with the national team, the world Cup final against Canada in 2018. (Video: SRF)

What a role you played when you were still a player?
I spoke as a Young well English, because I had attended a year of high school in Canada. So I could not talk in the train with the Swiss, but also with the Canadians. I was pretty naughty. People may not know it: But I am quite funny. From time to time a joke I succeed. (laughs) as a Captain, I always said: The others have guns, no machines. It is a game, let's have some Fun.

they were Captain, as they came up with 23 to Davos. Will you take that?
When I switched in 1999 from Lugano to Davos, after the famous Ticino Grand final a maximum of, I came to Arno Del Curto. I knew him from the U-20, he had excited me, and knew how to take me. I had a certain Talent, but I was more famous than the one who invented the respectability. Arno said to me: "listen to the Fish, if you want to come to Davos, you have to take responsibility." He recognized the right. So I was a lot more professional.

"I was never afraid to decide and also to add, if it is not well."

you Were as a teenager, an alpha animal?
I'm just happy to be with people. I had an incredibly beautiful youth. We were in the neighborhood, many sports courts, I played floorball, ice hockey , football, Squash, Tennis, Badminton. And the school there was also. So I went, too. Alpha animal? I don't know. I was never afraid to decide and also to add, if it is not well.

they also played in the NHL, in Russia. Teams work everywhere according to the same pattern?
I was afraid of, in Russia, the mood could be tense. But the Russians surprised me extremely. The also have Schalk, since there was a Spässchen. The difference is greatest between a professional and a Junior team. In the case of the young, there are more cock fights. If you're 18, you have only the goal of a National League Team to get inside. You're entirely focused on you. Later you will realize: Ah, there's still a team! You'll gradually become the team player, your angle of view opens. For some this happens earlier. As in the case of Nico Hischier. Has the team thought to be already completely internalized, helps the other always.

probably The bitterest defeat for the national coach Patrick Fischer : The world Cup Final in 2018 against Sweden in the penalty lost shoot. (Video: SRF)

painting bottom man, Duke, Kukan, Malgin and smurf for the home world Cup, because they had once cancelled. A difficult decision?
no, it was a simple decision, this rule to enforce. It is the national team, and we play schools tournament, but the world Cup. Since each of us should be on fire when he gets the Chance. We also know that some dates are more attractive than others. But we cannot allow cherry-picking. It's not fair for those who always come. I think the players appreciate that. They have been trained in Switzerland, make money with this Sport, and in this way, you give something back.

A good Team is greater than the sum of its parts. How can you encourage it?
By providing a Team together with good people. Such, the respect to each other, but also with the opponents, the referees. We want to said in German, no mess. We have strong values. You can see it. Even in Moscow, where we dived, we had a good team spirit, fought until the end, although we were still far away from our potential. We went through this together. Also, in Pyeongchang. We knew: We have not performed; but we were looking for no excuses. This shows me that we had the right characters.

Switzerland is a small country, all the players know. Is that an advantage?
To 100 percent. When team building is to create Links among the players. An example: you have a closer connection to your brother than to other people. Because you know him for a long time, you know his stories. This gives a very different Cohesion. Therefore, it is an advantage that the players know so well. We now have a core that was together for a couple of years. I know these players are looking forward to meet again. And the force there.

"We treat the players like adults."

you, who shares the world Cup, the double Determine?
can say to the players themselves. We treat you like adults. With us there is no night's rest, no room hour. You know when you go to bed, and how to behave.

you never had problems with players, which were until two o'clock in the morning in the output?
In my four years, I have heard nothing of the sort. Maybe one or the other from arbitration. But the Team was at the world Cup is always wide awake until the very end. We were able to keep our energy level is always high. We give to the players at the world Cup a free night. And it's nice to see that you all go eat together. Since there are no groups.

you have To isolate the players at the world Championships at home more than usual? To go home, not allowed, or?
This is a topic that we will discuss exactly. It will also be because of the time window, in which the players, the Girlfriends or the family can meet. But you can sleep in the Hotel. We know that distraction is a big challenge. In addition to the many positive things that brings with it a home world Cup with.

icebreaker – Hockey Podcast by Tamedia

In the context of this article originated in the new part of the Tamedia-football-Podcasts "icebreaker". The whole conversation with Patrick Fischer can here the Podcast to be re-heard:

On Spotify as well as Apple. Or directly here:

Created: 07.12.2019, 14:27 PM