Promotion of young people: German problem? When stars of tomorrow do not play too little

Christian Streich spoke slightly into rage and – visually – took up the ball of national coach Julian Nagelsmann. The topic: young players, their promotion and their career. It was about the excitement question whether they play too little in Germany compared to nations such as Spain or France at the highest level.

“Julian indicated that a bit beforehand. He has to be careful, I don’t,” said Streich – and everyone laughed in the congress hall in Leipzig. “The young players have to go to the pitch, they have to gain experience, they have to play,” the former coach demanded SC Freiburg. Now nobody laughed at the international coaching congress.

Previously, Nagelsmann had noted – without wanting to criticize Vincent Kompany without Bayern coach – that young star Aleksandar Pavlović got little time last season. “He may have played 33 percent of the minutes,” said Nagelsmann.

In fact, Pavlović came in the Bundesliga at around 1500 minutes of deployment of mathematically possible 3060 with 34 games of 90 minutes. In the Champions League there were just under 300 out of 1260. However, the 21-year-old had to be injured and ill because of a broken collarbone and Pfeiffer’s glandular fever. He is currently missing again, this time because of a fracture of the eye socket.

Streich’s plea: change at the right time

Pavlović has already made it to the national team. In any case, Streich made it clear where other kickers should be used. Young players would have to play regularly in Freiburg, Stuttgart or Bremen, then they would also be invited to the national team. “They have to change at the right time,” he emphasized.

Instead, they would go somewhere “because of the powder” and not think about further development. “A player should go to a large club if he has the perspective,” emphasized Streit. Often, according to Streich, the consultants do not participate.

Klopp’s proposal: A separate U21 league

Jürgen Klopp is therefore strong for his own U21 league. “I want us to extend the training period. This creates a new player market and a new coaching market,” said the former coach of Mainz, Dortmund and Liverpool of “Welt am Sonntag”.

Countries such as Spain, France, Portugal or the Netherlands would do it very well. “You have a big repertoire of excellent players. And we are back on the subject of training: I don’t think you have a talent per se as soon as you are born in Madrid, Paris, Porto or Amsterdam,” emphasized Red Bull.

Leipzig and the young talents from France

RB Leipzig in particular has been known as a buyer for young foreign players. Bayern’s Dayot Upamecano moved from RB Salzburg to Leipzig in 2017 at the age of 18. Christopher Nkunku, now with club world champion FC Chelsea, came to Saxony at the age of 21. Nordi Mukiele, now at the Champions League winner Paris Saint-Germain, was 20 years old when he switched to RB Leipzig. All three were trained in France.

In the Grande Nation there is the program “Discover Young Talents”. This service plan of the association, headed by the national technical management, accompanies children from the age of 13 on their way to professional sports and to the French national teams, it says. School and sporting development go hand in hand. But not everyone can do it in France either. Of 700 that go through the program per generation, according to the association 130, a professional contract sign.

Coach Schmidt criticized: Not all clubs have U23 team

In Germany, too, a talent promotion program helps the youngsters, including with 39 elite schools. But the sticking point seems to be the early professional phase. “I think there is certainly enough talent in Germany,” emphasized Roger Schmidt.

“At my last two stations it was clear: It was best to play for titles, but it was also very clear to get the trainer to get the players from their own youth. To develop them so that they would be sold at some point. As a problem, he sees that not even all German clubs have their own U23 team.

FC Bayern has one and he has his campus for the professionals and stars of the record champion of the future. “We now also have players who have a right perspective. This does not mean that they will be a regular player in the first team. They will have to perform through the training and then get the missions,” said Bavaria’s sports director Max Eberl.