The DFB President came personally to say farewell. Wolfgang Niersbach paid a visit to the under-17s team hotel in Frankfurt in order to wish them luck for the tournament in Bulgaria, but he also reminded the young players what the tournament is all about.
“Everyone of you has to push yourself to your limits,” said Niersbach to the team. “Success is only possible if you give your all and fight for each other. I stood in front of a group of young men eleven months ago to wish them all the best for a tournament. And we all know how that finished. The first team showed in Brazil how to be successful as a unit.”
Wolfgang Niersbach used Per Mertesacker as an example of someone who was an absolute team player after losing his regular place in the side. “I spoke with Per on a number of occasions during the tournament,” explained the DFB President. “It wasn’t easy for him but he put that behind him. And that’s what being part of a team is all about.”
Passlack: “Additional motivation” from Niersbach
Captain Felix Passlack and the other 17 players in the squad listened attentively and were influenced by the visit of the DFB President. “It was a great gesture from Mr Niersbach, who has given us additional motivation,” said Passlack, who won the under-17s Bundesliga West title with Borussia Dortmund’s under-17s at the weekend. “It shows how important we are at the DFB.”
It could have slight repercussions as Passlack is the only player to be injured. “I’m optimistic that he’ll be fully fit for the first game,” explained manager Christian Wück. There are two other Dortmund players in the squad in Dzenis Burnic and Jann-Luca Serra. Bochum have the most number of players in the squad in Erdinc Karakas, Gökhan Gül and Görkem Saglam.
The squad began their journey to Bulgaria this morning with a flight to Vienna, from where they will fly on to Varna. The final stage of the journey will be made by bus to the Sunset Resort in Pomorie on Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast, which is where the team hotel is located. All 16 teams will stay at the same hotel throughout the tournament.
Wück: “The guys are used to playing with each other”
Christian Wück is optimistic, despite no preparation and the long journey ahead of them. “A top preparation would make things a lot different but unfortunately it’s not possible. But we have the advantage that the squad is unchanged with the exception of Vitaly Janelt. The guys are used to playing with each other.”
The focus over the coming days leading up to the first game on Wednesday (18:00 CEST) will be on recuperation: “The players have come here on the back of cup and league games,” explained Wück. “We won’t overwork the players both physically and mentally as it’s a long tournament.”
If they get there, the final will take place on 22nd May in Burgas. It’s a date that DFB President Wolfgang Niersbach has also made note of. “I would be delighted if I could travel to Bulgaria on 22nd May to cheer you on in the final,” he said to the side. It would be a reunion that would please everyone.
created by mmc/fs
The DFB President came personally to say farewell. Wolfgang Niersbach paid a visit to the under-17s team hotel in Frankfurt in order to wish them luck for the tournament in Bulgaria, but he also reminded the young players what the tournament is all about.
“Everyone of you has to push yourself to your limits,” said Niersbach to the team. “Success is only possible if you give your all and fight for each other. I stood in front of a group of young men eleven months ago to wish them all the best for a tournament. And we all know how that finished. The first team showed in Brazil how to be successful as a unit.”
Wolfgang Niersbach used Per Mertesacker as an example of someone who was an absolute team player after losing his regular place in the side. “I spoke with Per on a number of occasions during the tournament,” explained the DFB President. “It wasn’t easy for him but he put that behind him. And that’s what being part of a team is all about.”
Passlack: “Additional motivation” from Niersbach
Captain Felix Passlack and the other 17 players in the squad listened attentively and were influenced by the visit of the DFB President. “It was a great gesture from Mr Niersbach, who has given us additional motivation,” said Passlack, who won the under-17s Bundesliga West title with Borussia Dortmund’s under-17s at the weekend. “It shows how important we are at the DFB.”
It could have slight repercussions as Passlack is the only player to be injured. “I’m optimistic that he’ll be fully fit for the first game,” explained manager Christian Wück. There are two other Dortmund players in the squad in Dzenis Burnic and Jann-Luca Serra. Bochum have the most number of players in the squad in Erdinc Karakas, Gökhan Gül and Görkem Saglam.
The squad began their journey to Bulgaria this morning with a flight to Vienna, from where they will fly on to Varna. The final stage of the journey will be made by bus to the Sunset Resort in Pomorie on Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast, which is where the team hotel is located. All 16 teams will stay at the same hotel throughout the tournament.
Wück: “The guys are used to playing with each other”
Christian Wück is optimistic, despite no preparation and the long journey ahead of them. “A top preparation would make things a lot different but unfortunately it’s not possible. But we have the advantage that the squad is unchanged with the exception of Vitaly Janelt. The guys are used to playing with each other.”
The focus over the coming days leading up to the first game on Wednesday (18:00 CEST) will be on recuperation: “The players have come here on the back of cup and league games,” explained Wück. “We won’t overwork the players both physically and mentally as it’s a long tournament.”
If they get there, the final will take place on 22nd May in Burgas. It’s a date that DFB President Wolfgang Niersbach has also made note of. “I would be delighted if I could travel to Bulgaria on 22nd May to cheer you on in the final,” he said to the side. It would be a reunion that would please everyone.
