Christoph Zimmermann issues brutally honest assessment of Norwich City’s relegation from the Premier League | OneFootball

Norwich City have been relegated from the Premier League with a whimper once again, in a very similar manner to in 2019/20, and the Canaries will be hoping to bounce back in the Championship next season.

Norwich managed one point, 22, more than when they finished rock bottom in 2019/20, but it has almost been more humiliating due to the manner of their Championship title win last term.

Dean Smith and the recruitment team face a tall older to assemble a squad capable of pushing for promotion next season, no longer having the outstanding talent and trump card of Emiliano Buendia in the second tier.

Christoph Zimmermann delivered his rather damning verdict of the club’s 2021/22 campaign when he spoke to The Athletic.

He said: “I’m happy the season is over.

“In the end, you could feel you need to get the season over with.

“Yet we’re not a club that plays Premier League football season after season.

“You don’t know how many seasons PL you’ll get here, so normally you should enjoy every game of it; cherish those games and years.

“It’s completely wrong to be happy this season is over – and that tells you how wrong this season has gone; that you’re thinking, thank god it’s over.”

Zimmermann only managed two league starts this season, and his frustration in the way the campaign played out individually and as a collective is very apparent by his comments.

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By the end, even Sam Byram, a specialist full back, was being preferred to Zimmermann at the heart of defence, suggesting that the German is very unlikely to be first choice in the Championship next season, if Dean Smith stays in the dugout.

The 29-year-old has one year left on his contract at Carrow Road, with an optional extension in place in the deal, however, after being used so infrequently this season it would not be a surprise to see him leave the club this summer.

The Canaries know that they have the foundations of a promotion pushing squad heading into next season, but without Daniel Farke and Buendia this time around, there is a lot of work that needs to be done before they can be considered as promotion contenders.